National League Roundup : Reds’ O’Neill Tests Mitchell’s Bat, Then Hits 2 Homers in a 12-5 Victory

Paul O’Neill picked up Kevin Mitchell’s bat, and some of the magic rubbed off.

After swinging Mitchell’s bat before the game, O’Neill did a good imitation of the San Francisco slugger when he hit two home runs, including a grand slam, to lead the Cincinnati Reds to a 12-5 victory over the Giants Wednesday night at Cincinnati.

Mitchell leads the major leagues with 22 home runs and 61 runs batted in, so O’Neill asked to see his bat and Mitchell obliged.

“I got a hold of one of his bats before the game and was swinging it around,” said O’Neill, who had a career-high six RBIs. “Maybe it rubbed off.”

O’Neill hit an RBI single in the first off Atlee Hammaker (5-4), a second-inning grand slam off Jeff Brantley and a solo homer in the fifth off Brantley.

The grand slam was the first of O’Neill’s career and the first by a Red since Nick Esasky hit one against Houston last June 14.

“That was one of those home runs you hit and enjoy right off the bat,” O’Neill said. “In the back of your mind you hope something like that will happen.”

O’Neill is 14 for 26 with three homers in six games against the Giants this season.

Barry Larkin went two for five to raise his league-leading average to .355. He doubled home two runs to launch a six-run second inning that put the Reds ahead, 8-3.

Hammaker bore the brunt of the Reds’ attack, allowing seven hits and six earned runs in 1 1/3 innings.

Rick Mahler (8-5) allowed 10 hits, including solo homers by Terry Kennedy and Candy Maldonado, while pitching his fifth complete game. Mitchell had a .524 career average against Mahler going into the game but went hitless in three at-bats.

New York 10, Chicago 5--Kevin McReynolds drove in four runs for the Mets at Chicago with a homer and a sacrifice fly, and Dwight Gooden beat the Cubs for the 17th time in 20 career decisions.

McReynolds’ homer off Rick Sutcliffe (7-4) broke a 4-4 tie during a five-run fifth inning. Barry Lyons, who had three RBIs, doubled home two more off Pat Perry as the Mets rebounded after losing the first two games of the series by a combined score of 23-7.

Gooden (7-2) allowed seven hits and five runs while walking four and striking out two in five innings. Rick Aguilera pitched the final four innings to get his fourth save.

New York’s Darryl Strawberry was forced to leave the game in the sixth inning with back spasms.

St. Louis 5, Montreal 2--Tom Brunansky homered and drove in three runs to lead the Cardinals past the Expos at Montreal.

A crowd of 30,214, largest in Montreal since opening day, turned out to see Mark Langston in his home debut. Langston (1-1, NL), acquired recently from Seattle, pitched seven innings and gave up four runs on seven hits. He struck out eight and walked five.

Brunansky’s solo homer broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth. He added a sacrifice fly in the seventh and a run-scoring single in the ninth.

Ken Hill (3-4) won for the first time in seven starts since May 4. He gave up six hits in 5 1/3 innings, and Ken Dayley got his third save.

Philadelphia 7, Pittsburgh 5--Curt Ford hit a tiebreaking pinch single in a three-run eighth inning that carried the Phillies past the Pirates at Philadelphia.

With the score 4-4, Von Hayes drew a leadoff walk from Bob Kipper (0-3) and stole second base. Reliever Randy Kramer intentionally walked Dwayne Murphy, and John Kruk singled, loading the bases, before Ford singled. Darren Daulton added a two-run double.

Jeff Parrett (2-4) pitched one inning to win, and Steve Bedrosian got his sixth save.

Barry Bonds hit two solo home runs for Pittsburgh.

Houston 3, San Diego 2--Terry Puhl doubled home the winning run in the sixth inning, and Mike Scott got his 10th victory as the Astros beat the Padres at Houston for their 12th victory in 13 games.

Scott (10-3) gave up two runs, both scoring on Jack Clark’s single in the third, on seven hits in seven innings. He struck out five and walked three. Dave Smith pitched the final inning for his 11th save.

Walt Terrell (4-7) allowed three runs on seven hits, losing a 2-1 lead when Glenn Davis hit a two-out, run-scoring triple and Puhl followed with a double in the sixth.