National League Roundup : Cone Sharp; Mets Get Third Straight Victory, 2-1

When the Mets start off with only six victories in their first 15 games, it is cause for near panic in New York.

Immediately, the press begins to wonder what is wrong. Already advanced for the problem is lack of chemistry, the absence of a leader and indifference.

It’s amazing how quickly a few victories can erase the panic.

David Cone struck out 10 and gave up just five hits in 8 2/3 innings Tuesday night at New York in a 2-1 victory over Atlanta. The third win in a row put the Mets at the .500 mark and suddenly, the Mets are only half a game out of first place in the National League East.

Cone, the Mets’ best pitcher last season when he posted a 20-3 record after becoming a starter because of injuries.

The strong-armed right-hander had things well in hand until Ron Gant hit a home run with one out in the eighth. Dion James and Jeff Treadway singled in the ninth and Manager Davey Johnson brought in Randy Myers to get the final out.

“I watched Walt Terrell, a right-hander like myself, pitch against them on TV Monday night and made up my own scouting report,” Cone said.

Among other things, Cone slowed down Dale Murphy, who hit .471 and had 10 runs batted in in the previous four games. Cone struck out the center fielder three times.

The fans booed when Johnson took Cone out in the ninth. “I was with the fans,” Johnson said. “I didn’t want to take him out, but I wanted Myers to get the last out.

“I’ve yet to see David pitch a bad game since he’s been with me. He spots the fastball real well and that accounts for a great deal of his consistency.”

As usual, winning does not necessarily make the Mets happy. Bob Ojeda, trying to come back from a serious finger injury, says he’s “angry” with Johnson for taking him out of the rotation.

San Diego 1, Pittsburgh 0--It was a terrific night for pitching, what with extremely cool weather in the East.

Eric Show (4-1) enjoyed it at Pittsburgh. He sawed off a few Pirate bats, gave up six hits in eight-plus innings.

The Padre pitchers don’t worry about going the distance. They know they have Mark Davis behind them.

When Bobby Bonilla reached second on an error to open the ninth, Davis came to the rescue. He retired three batters in a row to record his 10th save in his 10th opportunity.

The only run off loser Bob Walk (1-2) came in the fifth. Garry Templeton doubled and scored on Roberto Alomar’s single. The second baseman Alomar made the error that forced Manager Jack McKeon to bring Davis to the rescue.

Houston 4, Philadelphia 1-- Mike Scott doesn’t care for the cold. Fortunately, he was pitching indoors at Houston. He had a no-hitter through four innings and wound up with a four-hitter and improved his record to 3-1.

Glenn Davis gave Scott all the help he needed with a two-run home run in the first inning.

“The way he was pitching, I thought we were in for a no-hitter,” said Tommy Herr, who had one of the Phillies’ hits.

San Francisco 4, St. Louis 0--The cold at St. Louis agreed with Don Robinson, who allowed four hits in seven innings. He also singled in the fifth inning to help in a three-run inning that broke it open.

Bullpen ace Craig Lefferts gave up two hits in the last two innings but picked up his third save.

Cincinnati 6, Montreal 1--There wasn’t anything wrong with the way Tom Browning pitched at Cincinnati, either. He gave up seven hits and only a run to improve his record to 3-1.

It was a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning before Paul O’Neill tagged Dennis Martinez for a three-run homer. From there, Browning breezed.