National League Roundup : Deshaies Takes No-Hitter Into 8th in 2-0 Win

Left-hander Jim Deshaies’ job these days, as the Houston Astros try to overtake the Dodgers in the National League West, is to pitch seven strong innings each outing.

Deshaies (9-10) more than did his job Friday night at Houston. He held the slumping Pittsburgh Pirates hitless for seven innings, then wound up with a three-hitter in a 2-0 victory that dropped the Pirates 6 1/2 games behind the New York Mets in the East.

The victory kept the Astros 4 1/2 games behind the Dodgers in the West.

Bobby Bonilla’s infield hit in the eighth was the first hit Deshaies gave up. Third baseman Buddy Bell fielded the ball, but he had trouble getting it out of his glove, and Bonilla beat it out.

Deshaies wasn’t inclined to fault Bell, though, since Bell drove in one of the runs in the two-run third inning.

Astros Nolan Ryan and Mike Scott have taken no-hitters into the ninth inning this season.

“I saw the stuff those guys had when they came close,” Deshaies said, “and I didn’t feel I had it.

“You look up at the scoreboard and see no hits, but I didn’t think I had a serious chance until after six innings.”

Glenn Wilson followed Bonilla’s hit with a bloop single to right-center. But Bonilla thought it might be caught and made it only to second base. Wilson rounded first too far and was out, ruining the Pirates’ chance for a rally.

St. Louis 4, Cincinnati 2--Left-hander Danny Jackson went into this game at Cincinnati as the hottest pitcher in the majors. He had an 18-5 record, had pitched four consecutive complete games and had given up just 2 runs in 36 innings.

But in his worst outing since June, Jackson gave up 10 hits and 4 runs in 7 innings and lost for the first time since July 14, when he was beaten, 1-0, in 10 innings.

Vince Coleman hit a two-out double to drive in two runs in the fifth, and that brought about the end of Jackson’s eight-game winning streak.

Scott Terry (5-3) beat the Reds for the second time, although he needed relief help in the seventh. Terry, a converted reliever, is bidding for a regular job in the Cardinal rotation.

New York 3, San Francisco 0--After staggering the Dodgers, the leaders of the West, the Mets returned home intent on making quick work of the race in the East.

An error by first baseman Will Clark set up two unearned runs for the Mets in the fifth inning, and they went on to beat the Giants for just the third time in 10 games.

Sid Fernandez (8-10) held the Giants to four hits in seven innings before he needed help from bullpen ace Randy Myers. Myers pitched two hitless innings and retired the Giants on strikes in the ninth.

Mookie Wilson, playing right field in place of slumping Darryl Strawberry, had two hits and drove in a run. Wilson is 21 for 46 (.457) in the last 16 games.

San Diego 4, Montreal 3--Carmelo Martinez continues to provide the power for the surging Padres. He hit his fifth home run in the last eight games in this one at Montreal to help beat the slumping Expos.

The Expos have lost 10 of their last 12 games and have fallen 10 games behind the Mets in the East.

Atlanta 2, Chicago 0--There have been few bright spots for the Braves this season, but rookie Pete Smith has been one of them.

Smith, whose record is only 7-12, pitched a five-hitter at Atlanta for his second consecutive shutout. He is 4-1 in his last five starts.