National League Roundup : Gooden Lasts Only Four Innings and Loses, 5-1

Dwight Gooden, who experienced shoulder stiffness in his previous two starts, was physically sound but ineffective Monday night in Montreal. In four innings, he gave up five hits, including a three-run homer by Spike Owen, as the Expos beat the New York Mets, 5-1.

Pascual Perez (4-8) pitched a five-hitter and struck out 11, ending the Mets’ four-game winning streak. It was Perez’s first complete game of the season.

Gooden (9-3) left after the fourth inning when the Expos scored all their runs. It was his shortest outing since Sept. 26, 1987, when he lasted three innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

With one out in the fourth, Andres Galarraga doubled and scored on Tim Raines’ single. Raines later scored on a double by Hubie Brooks and, after a walk to Tim Wallach, Owen hit his fourth homer of the season.

San Francisco 4, Houston 3--The Giants got three key pinch-hits in a two-run seventh inning to win at Houston.

The Giants, winners of eight of their last nine, have a four-game lead over the Astros in the National League West.

Kevin Mitchell, leading off the seventh inning, reached on a two-base fielding error by third baseman Craig Reynolds. Mitchell moved to third on a single by pinch-hitter Ed Jurak and scored on a double by pinch-hitter Candy Maldonado.

An intentional walk to Terry Kennedy loaded the bases for pinch-hitter Ken Oberkfell, who beat out an infield single to first.

Steve Bedrosian pitched two innings for his 14th save and fifth in five opportunities since being traded to the Giants from Philadelphia.

Philadelphia 5, St. Louis 4--Dickie Thon singled with the bases loaded to cap a three-run, ninth-inning rally as the Phillies won at St. Louis.

Randy Ready hit a two-run double to tie the score and, after Ricky Jordan was intentionally walked, Thon broke the tie with a single against Todd Worrell (1-2).

St. Louis starter Ken Hill allowed four hits in six innings. He also improved his batting average to .258 after getting two hits in two at-bats and driving in a run.

Pittsburgh 2, Chicago 1--The Cubs lost their fourth consecutive game as Doug Drabek won his fourth in a row with a seven-hitter at Chicago.

The Cubs have scored only two runs in their last four games.

Barry Bonds led off the game with a triple off Greg Maddux (6-7) and scored on Rafael Belliard’s single. Andy Van Slyke doubled to send Belliard to third and Bobby Bonilla added a run-scoring grounder.

Maddux then retired 20 of the next 21 batters. He gave up only four hits in seven innings.