NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Mets Get Physical, Defeat Braves, 2-1

It was a bad night for batters, but the New York Mets’ Kevin McReynolds got the big hit.

McReynolds’ hard slide allowed Mike Marshall to beat the double-play relay and enabled the winning run to score in the ninth inning Tuesday night as the Mets beat the Atlanta Braves, 2-1, at New York.

With the score tied, 1-1, pinch-hitter Mark Carreon opened the ninth for the Mets by hitting a double off Mike Stanton (0-1). With the bases loaded and one out, former Dodger Marshall hit what looked like a double play ball to shortstop Jeff Blauser, who grabbed the ball and flipped to second baseman Jeff Treadway for the force.

But McReynolds took out Treadway with a football block, Marshall beat the throw to first and the Mets won.

The legal, but bruising slide sent Treadway flying. Treadway wasn’t sure he could have completed the double play anyway.

“It would have been hard to complete from that position,” he said. “It was a last-ditch effort.”

Marshall wanted everyone to know that despite his size, he’s not slow.

“Everybody thinks I’m slow because I wear a size 14 shoe,” Marshall said. “I beat the throw by at least a step. I knew I was safe. The way I hit the ball the only thing they could do was try for the double play.”

Dwight Gooden went eight innings and struck out 10, but did not get the victory. Pete Smith went seven innings, struck out nine and gave up two hits.

Smith retired the first 12 batters before walking Strawberry to start the fifth. Strawberry stole second, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on McReynolds’ sacrifice fly. With two outs, Barry Lyons singled for the Mets’ first hit.

“This was probably one of the best games I have pitched in a long time,” Gooden said. “After the second inning, I felt I was the Doc of old. Either one of us could have won the game. He was great.”

Gooden was to blame for giving up the run. He made a poor pickoff throw trying to pick off Treadway, who had singled, in the first inning. Jim Presley doubled Treadway home. The Braves had only one other hit.

Julio Machado (2-0) pitched the ninth and struck out two batters for the victory.

Philadelphia 6, Cincinnati 3--The Reds lost their second game in a row and first on the road and also lost center fielder Eric Davis, who strained his knee trying to steal second base in the second inning.

Ken Howell, who had the flu and wasn’t expected to pitch, went a solid six innings to get the Phillies their fourth victory in a row.

Montreal 5, Houston 3--Usually by this time of the season some manager has accused right-hander Mike Scott of the Astros of using illegal substances when he pitches.

There hasn’t been a peep this season.

The Expos jumped on Scott (0-2) for four runs in the first three innings at Houston and the Astros could never catch up. Tim Wallach’s two-run home run started the Scott downfall in the first inning.

In his four starts he has pitched 19 2/3 innings, giving up 20 hits and 16 earned runs. Scott has walked 12 batters.

San Diego 13, Chicago 3--The Padres are finding 13 a lucky number. For the second game in a row they scored that many runs.

The Padres, who had 17 hits in a 13-3 victory over San Francisco Monday night, had 19 in this game at San Diego.

Dennis Rasmussen pitched a strong eight innings and drove in two runs as the Padres handed the Cubs their fifth loss in a row.

Joe Carter, who drove in seven runs Monday night, was two of five, but drove in only one run. All the Padre regulars hit safely except Jack Clark.

Pittsburgh 4, San Francisco 1--The Giants continue to struggle at home.

Doug Drabek hit a two-run home run for his first major league homer and pitched a strong seven innings as the Pirates handed the Giants their sixth consecutive loss at home.