NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Gooden No Problem for Expos in 6-5 Victory

After being hammered for the second start in succession Saturday at Montreal, it was only natural to wonder if his right shoulder was still bothering Dwight Gooden.

The shoulder problem forced the New York Met pitcher to miss much of last season.

Nelson Santovenia’s bases-loaded double highlighted a five-run second inning against Gooden, and the Expos went on to edge the Mets, 6-5.

Gooden gave up five runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings in a loss to Pittsburgh on opening day and the same in three innings Saturday. He is 0-2, with an earned-run average of 11.75.

“There is no pain in the shoulder,” Gooden said after the opener. “I am pitching freely. I just needed a longer spring, especially after missing so much of last season.”

Gooden was not available for comment after his second pounding. He left for Florida, where his daughter was born Friday.

Manager Davey Johnson said he didn’t think there was a problem with the shoulder. “One of his problems is he’s throwing too many pitches in the middle of the plate,” Johnson said. “He also may be tipping his pitches. He had that problem last spring.”

The Expos batted nine men in the second inning. Tim Wallach, Andres Galarraga and Larry Walker singled before Santovenia cleared the bases with a bloop double down the third-base line.

Manager Bob Rodgers of the Expos wouldn’t say whether Gooden was tipping his pitches. “All I know,” he said, “is that we were hitting shots. He was throwing hard, but his ball wasn’t moving.”

Tim Raines of the Expos stole his 586th base in the fifth inning, tying Maury Wills for 10th on the all-time list.

Winning pitcher Dennis Martinez (1-0) wasn’t much sharper than Gooden. In his second start, Martinez gave up eight hits and four runs in six innings.

Chicago 4, Pittsburgh 1--Mike Harkey knows he will be in the Cubs’ pitching rotation only until injured Rick Sutcliffe returns. The rookie from San Diego intends to make the most of it.

Harkey, a 23-year-old right-hander in his first start since late in 1988, gave up five hits and a run in six innings at Pittsburgh to earn his first major league victory.

First baseman Sid Bream made an error that contributed to the three-run third inning that made Harkey a winner. Harkey was 0-3 in 1988.

Harkey, who starred at Cal State Fullerton and was a first-round choice (fourth player chosen) in the 1987 draft, spent most of last season on the disabled list.

The Cubs are 4-1. Mitch Williams has four saves. He pitched a scoreless ninth.

San Diego 5, San Francisco 3--The Padre bullpen, after the loss of Mark Davis, was supposed to be suspect. But in the last two games, the Giant relievers have faltered.

After Eric Gunderson pitched six impressive innings and Kevin Mitchell hit his first home run of the season, the Giants had a 3-1 lead going into the eighth.

The Padres got a run in the eighth inning, then tied the score on Garry Templeton’s two-out single in the ninth. They won it in the 10th on Mike Pagliarulo’s sacrifice fly off Jeff Brantley.

Friday night the Padres came from behind to tie on Jack Clark’s home run, then won it with five runs in the ninth inning.

Philadelphia 6, St. Louis 2--Tommy Herr, who had hit only 22 home runs in 10 seasons, hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning at Philadelphia.

Winner Bruce Ruffin gave up six hits and two runs in 7 1/3 innings.

Cincinnati-Atlanta--The unbeaten Reds took a 9-4 lead in the fourth inning at Atlanta, but the game was called because of rain.