National League Roundup : Strawberry Is Sidelined; Mets Blow 5-Run Lead

Tim Raines tied the score with a two-run single in the eighth inning and then won it with a two-run single in the ninth as the Montreal Expos overcame a five-run deficit and beat the New York Mets, 8-5, Tuesday night at New York.

The Mets played without Darryl Strawberry, who suffered a broken toe when he was hit by a pitch from Montreal’s Kevin Gross on Monday night.

Strawberry is expected to be out for at least a week.

“It hurts to walk. If it doesn’t respond by Friday, I guess it’s the disabled list,” Strawberry said. “That’s the last place I want to be.”

Met starter Sid Fernandez was hurting, too. He was hit above the left knee by a pitch from Dennis Martinez in the fifth inning and was still sore after the game.

“If he (Martinez) ever throws at me again, he better get insurance. I’m not going to be a nice guy any longer,” Fernandez said.

A few minutes later, Fernandez reconsidered and softened his tone. He said he had merely been joking.

“He was probably trying to pitch me inside,” Fernandez said.

The Expos ended a three-game losing streak and won for only the second time in seven games. The Mets, who led, 5-0, after the first inning, lost for the third time in nine games.

Raines ended a 1-for-17 slump with his game-tying single with two out against Rick Aguilera (3-2). Spike Owen led off the ninth with an infield single, was sacrificed to second, and two-out walks to pinch-hitter Tom Foley and Andres Galarraga loaded the bases. Raines followed with a solid single to center field on a 2-and-2 pitch from Aguilera, who had given up one earned run in his last 40 1/3 innings.

San Francisco 4, Houston 0--Scott Garrelts, the subject of trade rumors, gave up no runs and seven hits in 7 1/3 innings as the Giants beat the Astros to take a three-game lead in the National League West.

The Giants have won four straight and nine of their last 11 games.

Garrelts (6-2)) making his first start against Houston since June of 1986, struck out four and walked none. During the weekend it was reported that the New York Yankees had offered outfielder Rickey Henderson to the Giants for Garrelts and outfielder Candy Maldonado.

Chicago 5, Pittsburgh 4--Shawon Dunston’s two-out single in the 11th inning scored the go-ahead run as the Cubs beat the Pirates at Pittsburgh.

Vance Law greeted Miguel Garcia (0-1), the sixth Pirate pitcher, with a single to start the 11th and advanced on pitcher Calvin Schiraldi’s sacrifice bunt. Damon Berryhill flied out, but Dunston singled up the middle and moved to second when center fielder Andy Van Slyke’s throw sailed over the head of catcher Dann Bilardello.

Schiraldi (2-4) pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings for the victory, the Cubs’ 17th in their last 26 road games. Paul Kilgus got the last out for his first major league save.

St. Louis 6-5, Philadelphia 4-3--Terry Pendleton’s three-run double off newly acquired Terry Mulholland keyed a five-run sixth inning as the Cardinals defeated the Phillies in the first game at Philadelphia.

The start of the second game was delayed 1 hour and 39 minutes because of rain. Ozzie Smith had two RBIs and Pendleton one to send the Phillies to their 20th loss in 25 games.

Center fielder Len Dykstra, acquired from the Mets along with reliever Roger McDowell, made his debut with the Phillies in the opener and went 2 for 4, with a walk and three runs scored. He also made a diving catch in the sixth inning.

With the Phillies leading, 3-1, Jose Oquendo opened the sixth with a single, and Smith and Tom Brunansky walked to load the bases with one out. Pendleton doubled down the left-field line off Mulholland (0-1), scoring all three runners, and took third on the throw to the plate.

Mulholland, who was acquired from San Francisco on Sunday in the Steve Bedrosian deal, pitched 5 1/3 innings and gave up nine hits.