National League Roundup : Pirates Overcome Cubs, 3-1

Bobby Bonilla did his job. Mitch Williams didn’t.

Bonilla, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ RBI leader last season, lined a two-run triple in the eighth inning off Williams, the Chicago Cubs’ best reliever, as Pittsburgh won, 3-1, Wednesday at Chicago.

It was the Pirates’ fifth consecutive victory, and the Cubs’ sixth loss in a row.

Williams came into the game after starter Mike Bielecki (6-4) gave up a two-out walk to Barry Bonds and an infield single to Jose Lind. Andy Van Slyke tied the score with an RBI single to center before Bonilla’s triple.

“My job as a reliever is to come in and get people out, but I simply blew it,” said Williams, who has 18 saves in 25 opportunities.

Jeff Robinson (4-6), making only his second start since being acquired from the San Francisco Giants on Aug. 21, 1986, gave up four hits, no walks and struck out five in seven innings. Bob Kipper pitched 1 2/3 innings, giving up two hits, including Damon Berryhill’s two-out double in the ninth, before Bill Landrum came on to retire Gary Varsho on a comebacker for his eighth save.

A couple of Cub slumps continued--Andre Dawson is 0 for 18 and seven for 48, and Ryne Sandberg, five for 53, is hitless in his last 20 at-bats.

Montreal 4, New York 3--Mark Langston struck out 10 and, despite giving up 12 hits and three runs in eight innings, won his first game at Olympic Stadium as the Expos won their sixth in a row.

“I’ll be satisfied with a 12-hitter any time I end up with a ‘W,’ ” Langston said. “It seemed like I was in trouble all night, but I was fortunate that my slider was breaking sharply.”

Coming in, Langston (4-2) had won three games on the road but had lost two decisions at home. Tim Burke got the last three outs for his 16th save. Montreal pitchers have given up only seven runs in the last six games.

Atlanta 4, Cincinnati 3--At Cincinnati, Tom Glavine gave up two runs in 8 1/3 innings and Tommy Gregg had three hits as the Braves ended a five-game losing streak.

Gregg figured in each of the first three runs, scoring in the first inning after hitting a double. In the third and fifth innings, his hit-and-run singles moved Gerald Perry into scoring position.

The Reds pulled off their first triple play in 22 years in the sixth inning when Bruce Benedict lined out to shortstop Barry Larkin with runners on first and second moving on the pitch.

Eric Davis hit two homers and drove in three runs for the Reds.

Houston 7, San Francisco 3--The Astros won for the fifth time in six games, cutting the Giants’ lead in the West to two games, as Glenn Davis drove in two runs at Houston.

Bill Doran, Davis and Ken Caminiti had run-scoring doubles in the first inning, and Terry Puhl had an RBI double in the third off Don Robinson (7-5). Davis added an RBI single in the fifth.

Jim Deshaies (8-3) went seven innings, giving up three runs on five hits, including Candy Maldonado’s solo homer in the fifth inning.

St. Louis 2, Philadelphia 1--Joe Magrane pitched a seven-hitter and Pedro Guerrero drove in his first run in 12 games as the Cardinals won at St. Louis to end a four-game losing streak.

Magrane (7-6) won for the fourth time in five starts. He lost his shutout when Steve Lake singled home Randy Ready with two out in the ninth.

Ozzie Smith had an RBI single in the first inning, extending his hitting streak to nine games.