NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Cubs Take First Place, Drop Mets to Last, 8-5

After winning the pennant in the National League East last season, the Chicago Cubs thought they had earned some respect. They didn’t.

Almost all the experts picked the New York Mets to win the Eastern Division this spring. The few who didn’t thought maybe the St. Louis Cardinals might bounce back. The Cubs, are they still in the league?

The answer to that question is yes, definitely.

Marvell Wynne’s pinch-triple with the bases loaded highlighted a five-run seventh inning that led the Cubs to an 8-5 victory over the Mets Wednesday night at New York.

The second victory in a row over the Mets lifted the Cubs into first place and dropped the fumbling Mets into last place.

The Mets are 3-6 and have made 13 errors already. In this game, center fielder Keith Miller and left fielder Mark Carreon misjudged fly balls that went for hits and helped the Cubs to two runs.

Darryl Strawberry hit his second home run for the Mets, but it merely cut the lead to 8-4. It was the Mets’ 12th home run.

Greg Maddux, who blew a 3-0 lead, went seven innings to win his second in a row.

Former Dodger Mike Marshall hit a two-run home run off Maddux to open the Mets’ scoring in the fourth. It was his second home run of the season.

The Mets’ poor defensive play did not rub off on Ryne Sandberg. The Cubs’ second baseman extended his errorless streak to 98, the most ever for any infielder except a first baseman.

Cincinnati 11, San Diego 7--The Reds, continuing their tremendous power display, tied a club record for the best start ever when they won their eighth in a row.

Mariano Duncan, Paul O’Neill and Chris Sabo hit home runs as the Reds battled from behind.

O’Neill, who entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the third inning, hit a three-run home run in the fourth to break a 5-5 tie. He had four of the Reds’ 14 hits.

Barry Larkin went two for three and scored four runs, but only raised his average six points. He is 21 for 35 for a .600 average.

St. Louis 3, Pittsburgh 0--It might be early, but John Tudor is off to a fast start for comeback player of the year.

Tudor, whose only victory last season was at Vero Beach, held the Pirates to six hits in seven innings at Pittsburgh to improve his record to 2-0. In his two starts Tudor has pitched 13 scoreless innings.

Tim Jones, replacing shortstop Ozzie Smith, who has a groin injury, went three for three and drove in two runs.

Philadelphia 4, Montreal 3--Kevin Gross usually has pretty good control. But in this game at Montreal, the Expo veteran issued six walks and two wild pitches and the Phillies turned them into three runs and a victory.

Ken Howell (1-1) gave up two runs in the first inning but went seven innings for the victory.

Houston 10, Atlanta 5--Glenn Davis hit a three-run home run and drove in four runs at Houston as the Astros handed the Braves their sixth defeat in a row.

Craig Biggio, who walked three times, singled to give him 10 hits in his last 14 at-bats.