National League Roundup : Padre Plan Pays Off in 3-1 Victory

After a big finish last season, it was supposed to be so easy this year with the additions of Bruce Hurst and Jack Clark.

It hasn’t been easy yet, but Wednesday night’s performance at Pittsburgh was just what they had in mind.

Clark hit a two-run home run in the first inning and Hurst pitched his second complete game in five starts as the Padres beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 3-1.

“I feel pretty comfortable (in the NL),” said Hurst, who left the Boston Red Sox as a free agent to sign a three-year, $5.25-million contract with San Diego. “Yeah, I’m having a great time.”

Hurst (3-1) outdueled Doug Drabek (1-2), who allowed only three hits in seven innings.

Hurst struck out five and walked one while allowing seven hits. He retired the last 10 Pirates. Pittsburgh scored in the fourth inning on singles by Glenn Wilson, Benny Distefano and Rey Quinones.

In the ninth, Roberto Alomar doubled, Randy Ready sacrificed him to third and Gwynn tripled in the Padres’ third run.

New York 6, Atlanta 1--Dwight Gooden limited the Braves to five hits for 8 2/3 innings and started a two-run rally with a double as the Mets won at New York for their seventh victory in nine games.

Gooden (4-0) struck out nine and walked six while improving his lifetime record in April to 17-2. Randy Myers struck out Gerald Perry with the bases loaded to end the game and get his fourth save.

Gooden doubled in the fifth off Pete Smith (0-3) and scored on Len Dykstra’s single to break a 1-1 tie. Dykstra stole second and scored on Gregg Jefferies’ double.

Cincinnati 6, Montreal 5--Chris Sabo’s two-run double in the sixth put the Reds ahead to stay in a victory over the Expos at Cincinnati.

Rick Mahler (2-3), who beat his former teammates, started the sixth with a single off Pascual Perez (0-2). Mahler took third on Kal Daniels’ double and both runners scored when Sabo bounced a double over the Expos’ drawn-in infield to make it 3-2.

John Franco got his sixth save despite allowing three runs in the ninth before he retired Tim Wallach on a fly ball for the final out with two men on base.

St. Louis 3, San Francisco 1--Jose DeLeon allowed five hits over 8 1/3 innings and the Cardinals got past the Giants at St. Louis.

DeLeon (4-1) struck out seven and blanked the Giants after Brett Butler led off the game with a home run. Ken Dayley got the final two outs for his first save.

Terry Pendleton’s run-scoring single in the sixth broke a 1-1 tie and beat Kelly Downs (2-3). Tom Brunansky followed with a run-scoring single that ended an 0-for-24 streak.

Houston 6, Philadelphia 5--Glenn Davis homered in his fourth consecutive game as the Astros downed the Phillies at Houston.

Davis hit a two-run homer to break a 3-3 tie in the seventh and Gerald Young’s sacrifice fly made it 6-3 in the eighth.