National League Roundup : Dunston Warms His Own Welcome

Shawon Dunston celebrated his homecoming Tuesday night by hitting a home run against the New York Mets at New York.

Dunston, who grew up in Brooklyn as a Mets fan, tied the score with a two-run homer in the fifth inning and Andre Dawson, playing in his first game since coming off the disabled list, broke a tie in the sixth with a sacrifice fly as the Chicago Cubs beat New York, 4-2.

“I’ll never forget this one,” said Dunston, who hit his fourth home run of the season. “I always wanted to hit one in Shea. I was a Mets fan and cried when they lost the Series in 1973.”

The first-place Cubs have won 14 of their last 20 road games and have won four of their last five against the Mets. New York has lost 12 of its last 20 games, falling to 30-30.

“Shawon has been doing a lot of good things lately,” Chicago manager Don Zimmer said. “Everybody on this club has had something to do with us winning.”

Met Manager Davey Johnson was well aware Dunston had friends and family watching.

“Dunston swung the bat very well,” Johnson said. “He hits well in New York because he’s from here.”

Mike Bielecki (5-2), gave up two runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings for the victory and Mitch Williams earned his 15th save--tying the club record for saves by a left-hander set in 1975 by Darold Knowles. Ron Darling (4-5), gave up four hits in seven innings and struck out seven for the Mets.

“The Mets are not playing at their best right now and that’s when we have to take advantage,” Williams said.

Philadelphia 10, Pittsburgh 2--Dickie Thon hit a three-run homer, with Steve Lake and Tommy Herr adding three hits each to lead the Phillies to only their fourth victory in 18 games at Pittsburgh.

Ken Howell (6-3), gave up three hits and one run in five innings for the Phillies, whose only victories since May 23 have been against Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh’s Morris Madden (1-1), made his first major league start in 11 professional seasons. He gave up five hits and three runs in four innings, leaving after a 45-minute rain delay.

Juan Samuel singled in a run in the first and Lake and Herr added RBI singles in the second for a 3-0 lead.

Benny Distefano, the third left-handed throwing catcher in major league history, caught the final two innings for the Pirates in his second appearance behind the plate this season.

Montreal 2, St. Louis 0--Mark Langston pitched a four-hitter for his first National League shutout as the Expos won their fourth consecutive game, at St. Louis.

Langston (2-1) struck out two and walked four in his fourth start for Montreal since Seattle traded him to the Expos on May 25. It was the 10th career shutout for Langston, who lost to St. Louis, 5-3, last week.

Jose DeLeon (8-4), who had beaten the Expos four consecutive times since June 1985, was the loser, giving up three hits in seven innings, striking out four and walking four.

Cincinnati 9, San Diego 6--Eric Davis hit two two-run homers and Todd Benzinger hit a three-run homer as the Reds handed the Padres their seventh consecutive loss, at San Diego.

Davis has five homers in seven games against San Diego this season. He has driven in 17 runs against the Padres this year, batting .370 with 10 hits in 27 at-bats.

He homered off Walt Terrell in the fourth, making the score 2-2, and hit his 11th of the season off Mark Grant in eighth, making it 8-5.

Cincinnati’s Danny Jackson (5-8), gave up six hits and five runs in 5 2/3 innings, striking out eight and walking five. Terrell (4-8), gave up seven hits and six runs in 4 1/3 innings.

San Francisco 3, Atlanta 2--Atlee Hammaker gave up eight hits in 7 1/3 innings and the Braves committed five errors as the Giants won their fourth consecutive game, at San Francisco. Atlanta has lost five straight.

Hammaker (6-4), struck out five and walked none before Craig Lefferts finished with one-hit relief for his 12th save. Zane Smith (1-10), lost his sixth straight.