National League Roundup : Unlikely Hero Powers Pirates, 6-5

Rey Quinones, who had hit only two home runs all season, wasn’t even thinking about hitting one. Randy Myers, who hadn’t given up a home run in 28 appearances this season, certainly wasn’t thinking about giving one up.

But Quinones hit a two-run homer off Myers with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday, giving the Pittsburgh Pirates a 6-5 victory over the New York Mets at Pittsburgh.

Since blowing a 10-run lead in a 15-11 loss to Philadelphia on Thursday, the Pirates--who are 5-21 when trailing after six innings--have rallied for two consecutive come-from-behind victories over the Mets. They beat the Mets 4-3 in 10 innings Friday night.

Barry Bonds singled to start the Pirate ninth and moved to second on Jeff King’s sacrifice bunt. Quinones, who had doubled and scored in the eighth, then hit a 1-1 pitch into the left-field seats for his third homer and the first Myers has given up in 35 1/3 innings this season.

“I wasn’t thinking home run, I was just trying to make contact against him,” Quinones said. “I think I hit it pretty good. We’re picking it up now, we’re starting to play like we can, like the real Pirates.”

Myers (5-2) had given up only two runs in his previous 23 appearances and had an 0.31 ERA in his last 28 2/3 innings. He had pitched out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the bottom of the eighth with the Mets leading by a run.

“He caught a fastball and he hit it out, and I knew as soon as it went off his bat it was a home run,” Myers said. “The hitters know that I’m going to be throwing (fastballs), and it they make good contact, it’s going to go a long way.”

Houston 1, Atlanta 0--Jim Clancy gave up five hits in 7 1/3 innings as the Astros beat the Braves at Houston.

The Astros, who have won five straight, are unbeaten in their last 11 one-run games.

Clancy (4-4) struck out three and walked two. Dave Smith, the third Houston pitcher, got the last three outs for his 12th save in 13 opportunities.

John Smoltz (7-5) had retired 14 straight before Billy Hatcher singled with one out in the Houston sixth. One out later, Bill Doran doubled down the right-field line to score Hatcher.

San Francisco 1, San Diego 0--Robby Thompson’s triple, one of only two Giant hits off Ed Whitson, and a sacrifice fly by Will Clark in the third inning were enough to beat the Padres at San Francisco.

The Giants ended Whitson’s seven game-winning streak. Whitson (9-3) also gave up an infield single by Tracy Jones in the second inning. Whitson walked two and struck out two in his first loss since April 22.

Scott Garrelts (5-1) gave up six hits in six innings, striking out six and walking none. The right-hander left the game because of tightness in his pitching elbow.

Montreal 9, Philadelphia 1--Tim Raines’ pinch three-run double highlighted a five-run sixth inning, and Bryn Smith pitched a five-hitter as the Expos beat the Phillies at Montreal to move within a game of first place in the National League East.

Hubie Brooks had two RBI doubles and Tim Wallach drove in two runs with a double and a single. The Expos had 15 hits, three by Brooks, and tied a team record with eight doubles. The Phillies have lost 13 of 16.

Smith (6-2) struck out nine and walked none for his third complete game. Bruce Ruffin (0-3) gave up eight hits and two earned runs in five innings.

St. Louis 6, Chicago 0--Joe Magrane pitched a six-hitter for his first complete game of the season, and Tony Pena drove in three runs as the Cardinals shut out the Cubs for the second straight day at Chicago.

Magrane (4-5) ended a personal three-game losing streak with his sixth career shutout. The left-hander struck out nine, a career high, and walked two.