NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Martinez Loses Gem but Expos Win, 5-0

Dennis Martinez had not allowed a hit through eight innings Thursday night against the Philadelphia Phillies and the Montreal Expos’ 34-year old right-hander looked like he was on track to record baseball’s second no-hitter in two weeks.

But Martinez’ hopes for a no-hitter sank when his fastball refused to do the same.

Darren Daulton doubled with one out in the eighth as the Expos beat the Phillies, 5-0.

Daulton hit a 2-and-1 pitch over the head of center fielder Marquis Grissom.

“I didn’t want to get behind Daulton 3-1, so I threw a fastball I expected to sink,” said Martinez, who pitched his 17th shutout. “The ball stayed in the middle of the plate and he crushed it. There was nothing Grissom could do about it.”

On April 11, Mark Langston and Mike Witt combined on a no-hitter as the Angels beat the Seattle Mariners, 1-0.

Martinez gave up a double to Tommy Herr in the ninth and finished with a two-hitter. He struck out seven and walked one.

New York 4, Chicago 1--Theories concerning Dwight Gooden abounded when Mets’ right-hander began the season with two consecutive defeats.

Some observers thought Gooden was tipping off his pitches. Others said he wasn’t fully recovered from a torn shoulder muscle that put him on the disabled list last July.

Gooden quieted his doubters at least temporarily, allowing one run on four hits in seven innings to earn the victory against the Cubs at New York.

Gooden, who has never lost three consecutive decisions, struck out seven and walked two while improving to 19-3 against the Cubs.

John Franco held the Cubs hitless in the final two innings for his third save.

Pittsburgh 5, St. Louis 1--Bobby Bonilla broke a 1-1 tie with a run-scoring single in the eighth inning at St. Louis and Barry Bonds followed with his first home run.

Cardinal pitchers went 21 consecutive scoreless innings before Gary Redus hit an eighth-inning triple off Joe Magrane (0-2) that scored John Cangelosi from second.

Pittsburgh’s Doug Drabek (2-1) gave up one run on three hits in eight innings.