NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Pirates Snap Met Spell of Success in Openers With a 12-3 Victory

So much for the opening-day magic of Dwight Gooden and the New York Mets.

The Pittsburgh Pirates made Gooden disappear with apparent ease, and the 17 hits and 12 runs they got against one of the game’s best pitching staffs was not an illusion.

Led by Andy Van Slyke’s two home runs and four RBIs, Pittsburgh humiliated the Mets Monday in New York, 12-3.

“It was definitely a strange game,” Met Manager Davey Johnson said.

The nine-run margin of defeat was the Mets’ largest on opening day, and the 12 runs tied an opening-day high against New York.

The loss ended a streak of five consecutive opening-day victories for the Mets, who had not dropped a season-opener at home since 1974 against the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Mets had won 18 of their previous 20 opening-day games.

Bobby Bonilla, who drove in three runs, Jay Bell and Jose Lind each had three hits for the Pirates. The Mets got three hits--including home runs by Howard Johnson and Barry Lyons--against winner Doug Drabek and four relievers.

Gooden made his first start since tearing a muscle in his right shoulder last July 1 and had trouble with his location. He pitched 4 2/3 innings and allowed five runs on seven hits. The loss dropped his opening-day record to 3-1.

“One game doesn’t make a season,” Gooden said. “I felt good; I just didn’t make my pitches. They took advantage of my mistakes.”

Drabek allowed two hits--both of the homers--and three runs in five innings.

Cincinnati 8, Houston 4--Barry Larkin tripled with the bases loaded off reliever Charlie Kerfeld in the 11th inning, giving the Reds and new manager Lou Piniella a victory at Houston.

Kerfeld walked Joe Oliver to start the inning and Hal Morris followed with a single. After a sacrifice by Ron Oester, Chris Sabo was intentionally walked and former Astro Billy Hatcher struck out.

Larkin then hit a line drive to right field to score pinch-runner Rolando Roomes, Morris and Sabo. Eric Davis singled in Larkin.

St. Louis 6, Montreal 5--Willie McGee’s two-run double in the ninth sent the game to extra innings, and his run-scoring single in the 11th gave the Cardinals a victory at St. Louis.

Milt Thompson led off the 11th with a walk off Mark Gardner and advanced on a sacrifice before McGee lined a soft single to center.

In the ninth inning, Thompson drew a one-out walk from Tim Burke and Vince Coleman and McGee had consecutive doubles. After Pedro Guerrero drew an intentional walk with two outs, Terry Pendleton grounded out.

Winner Ken Dayley, the sixth Cardinal pitcher, worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

Rookie Delino DeShields got four hits in his first major-league game, driving in the go-ahead run in a four-run seventh for Montreal.