National League Roundup : Win Over Mets Ends Pirate Slump

For the first time in 10 days, the Pittsburgh Pirates are finally sliding in the right direction.

Barry Bonds’ hard slide broke up a potential inning-ending double play and allowed Andy Van Slyke to score the winning run in the 10th as Pittsburgh beat the New York Mets, 4-3, Friday night at Pittsburgh, ending the Pirates’ seven-game losing streak.

Darryl Strawberry hit a solo home run in the ninth that put the Mets ahead, 3-2. But Pittsburgh tied it in the bottom half and then won it in the 10th with the help of Strawberry’s two-base error in right field.

“I don’t care how we won it, it looked pretty to me,” said Manager Jim Leyland, whose Pirates blew a 10-run lead Thursday night in a 15-11 loss to Philadelphia. “This was a good comeback after last night, and these guys could have dropped their heads after Darryl’s home run, but they didn’t.”

Van Slyke opened the 10th with a ground single and continued to third base when the ball rolled under Strawberry’s glove. Roger McDowell (1-5) intentionally walked Bobby Bonilla and Bonds to load the bases.

After Jeff King flied out, pinch- hitter Benny Distefano grounded to second baseman Gregg Jefferies. Jefferies flipped to shortstop Kevin Elster for a force-out, but Bonds’ slide forced Elster to alter his throw, which glanced off Bonds’ right hand and bounced away, as Van Slyke scored.

Met Coach Bud Harrelson, running the team for Manager Davey Johnson, who is ill, rushed out to second base and argued interference, but rookie umpire Charlie Reliford made no call. Television replays showed that Bonds was able to touch second base when he slid into Elster.

Houston 6, Atlanta 5--The Astros rallied again, winning for the 14th time in 15 games when Billy Hatcher’s single capped a four-run sixth inning at Houston.

The Astros, who have won four straight, have come from behind in their last six victories.

San Francisco 12, San Diego 2--Tracy Jones drove in a career-high seven runs with four singles, and Kevin Mitchell hit his 23rd home run at San Francisco.

Jones, who began the game batting .127 with three RBIs in 71 at-bats, went 4 for 5. He hit three two-run singles with the bases loaded, two of them after intentional walks to Mitchell.

Mitchell, who leads the major leagues in home runs and has 62 RBIs, hit a solo homer and drew three walks. The Giants got 17 hits, including Ken Oberkfell’s three-run, pinch-homer.

Don Robinson (4-4) gave up one run on seven hits in eight innings. Loser Bruce Hurst (5-5) was tagged for six runs on 10 hits in five innings.

St. Louis 1, Chicago 0--Jose DeLeon and a brisk 15-m.p.h. wind out of the northwest helped cool off the red-hot Cubs in Chicago.

DeLeon (8-3) pitched eight innings of three-hit, shutout ball, and Pedro Guerrero drove in the only run with a first-inning double.

In winning five of their previous seven games, the Cubs had scored 54 runs and homered 13 times.

Montreal 5, Philadelphia 0--Dennis Martinez pitched a three-hitter for his first complete game this year, and Andres Galarraga drove in three runs as the Expos won at Montreal.