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National League Roundup : Reuschel Wins 12th for Giants

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From Associated Press

Rick Reuschel gave up four hits in 7 1/3 innings for his major league-leading 12th victory, and Will Clark hit his 12th home run of the season as the Giants beat the Houston Astros, 2-0, Wednesday at San Francisco to complete a three-game sweep.

Steve Bedrosian retired the last five batters for his eighth save of the season and his second save since being traded to the Giants by Philadelphia Sunday.

The 40-year-old Reuschel (12-2) won his ninth consecutive decision, striking out two and walking one. He threw first-pitch strikes to all but two hitters and threw only 66 pitches overall before leaving in the eighth because of a slight groin pull.

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“He spots his ball better than anyone in the league,” said the Astros’ Terry Puhl.

It was the Giants’ fifth straight victory during a 10-2 home stand, the first time in 23 years the Giants have won 10 games on a home stand. Houston dropped to 2-7 on its 13-game road trip and fell four games behind the Giants in the West.

New York 2, Montreal 0--David Cone gave up five hits in seven innings for his first victory since May 6, and Howard Johnson hit his 19th home run of the season as the Mets won at New York.

Cone (4-5), who had walked 12 in his last five starts and given up 23 runs and 26 hits in those 19 1/3 innings, struck out four and walked none. Randy Myers pitched two hitless innings for his ninth save.

Johnson, who has nine homers and 16 RBIs in his last nine games, led off the seventh with a homer to right on a 1-2 pitch from Bryn Smith (7-3). Johnson had three homers and five runs batted in against Montreal and went eight for 12 in the series as the Mets took two of three.

“Someone has to tell us how to get HoJo out,” Montreal Manager Buck Rodgers said. “I don’t know how, and our scouts don’t know.”

Chicago 1, Pittsburgh 0--Greg Maddux held the Pirates to six hits in 10 innings and Lloyd McClendon hit a sacrifice fly in the 11th at Pittsburgh.

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Gary Varsho, inserted as a pinch-runner in the ninth inning, doubled off Doug Bair (0-1) to start the 11th, took third on Damon Berryhill’s fly ball and scored on McClendon’s fly.

The Cubs, 21-15 on the road, have won four consecutive games and are 5-0 against Pittsburgh this season. They lead the Mets by 2 1/2 games in the East.

Maddux (6-6) walked four, struck out five and was three for four at the plate, raising his batting average to .304. Mitch Williams pitched the 11th for his 18th save.

Atlanta 4-1, Cincinnati 3-0--John Smoltz and three relievers combined on a nine-hit shutout in the second game after Jeff Treadway’s two-run single in the ninth inning won the opener as the Braves swept a doubleheader at Atlanta.

Smoltz (8-5) gave up six hits and struck out six in 5 1/3 innings before giving way to Paul Assenmacher (two innings), Mark Eichhorn (two-thirds of an inning) and Joe Boever, who pitched the ninth for his 11th save.

In the first game, Cincinnati relief ace John Franco (2-1) failed to save a game for only the second time in 20 opportunities.

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Dale Murphy, the first batter to face him, opened the ninth with a single. Andres Thomas also singled and both runners advanced on Tommy Gregg’s sacrifice. Jody Davis was walked intentionally to load the bases and Treadway punched the first pitch into center field.

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