National League Roundup : Clary Makes Fast Work (1:48) of Reds in 2-1 Win

Marty Clary got the call on short notice and turned in the shortest major league game this season.

Clary, called up Sunday from Atlanta’s farm system, got the word just two hours before making an emergency start for the Braves Thursday night. The 24-year-old right-hander overcame the lack of preparation time and pitched a four-hitter for a 2-1 victory over the Reds at Cincinnati The game lasted 1 hour 48 minutes.

When scheduled starter Pete Smith came down with a virus late in the afternoon, Clary (1-0), in only his second major league start, allowed just five runners to reach base and retired the last eight in order, throwing only 87 pitches.

Manager Russ Nixon informed Clary he was starting about two hours before the game, after Clary had already jogged and tossed a baseball.

He opened the game with his only walk, on four pitches to Lenny Harris.

The Braves broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth inning when Jeff Blauser led off with a double and advanced to third on a fielder’s choice. Dale Murphy followed with his third hit of the game, a single to right off Rob Dibble (6-3).

San Francisco 12, Chicago 2--Pitcher Scott Garrelts hit a two-run triple, one of eight straight Giant hits during a seven-run second inning at San Francisco, and the Cubs lost their seventh consecutive game.

Chicago took a 1-0 lead in the first on Mark Grace’s RBI single but left the bases loaded when Garrelts struck out Domingo Ramos to end the inning.

Candy Maldonado singled with one out in the second against Paul Kilgus (5-8) to start the Giants’ seven-run inning. Garrelts’ triple and Robby Thompson’s ninth homer of the season were the key hits. Kevin Mitchell, who leads the majors in home runs and RBIs, made two outs in the inning.

Garrelts injured a hamstring on the triple and had to leave the game, but the injury was not believed to be serious.

Before the game, it was announced that Mitchell will undergo tests today to determine the cause of swelling behind his left knee.

Houston 8, Montreal 3--At Montreal, Mike Scott became the first 13-game winner in the majors, and Billy Hatcher homered and drove in four runs as the Astros ended the Expos’ six-game winning streak.

Scott (13-4) gave up two runs on eight hits in eight innings. He struck out four and walked one.