NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Browning Wastes Not, Wants Not

Tom Browning, who had the first perfect game in Cincinnati Reds’ history in 1988, was close to getting another Monday night at St. Louis.

Browning needed only 89 pitches in a 3-0 victory, the Reds’ fifth in a row. It was their first four-game sweep in St. Louis since Aug. 1-4, 1966.

“I just wanted to get them out as quickly as possible,” said Browning, who faced three batters over the minimum in a game that lasted only 2:09. “I had pretty good command of the outside part of the plate.”

The Cardinals got only singles--by Rex Hudler in the fourth, Jose Oquendo in the eighth and pinch-hitter Tom Pagnozzi in the ninth. Browning struck out three and walked one in the Reds’ first complete game of the season.

Browning retired the first 10 before Hudler singled sharply to left with one out in the fourth. The Cardinals had only one other base runner in the first seven innings, Pedro Guerrero--who was walked intentionally with two out and Hudler on second in the fourth. Todd Zeile then lined out to right.

Paul O’Neill’s run-scoring single in the sixth broke a scoreless tie, and little-used reserve Luis Quinones added a two-run double in the same inning as the Reds improved to 18-5, best in the major leagues.

Montreal 7, San Francisco 6--Andres Galarraga hit a three-run home run and doubled home the deciding run with one out in the ninth inning to give the Expos a victory at Montreal.

Delino DeShields led off the ninth with a walk and was forced at second by Marquis Grissom. Grissom stole second base, and Tim Raines was walked intentionally before Galarraga doubled to left-center for the winning run.

Steve Frey picked up the victory after getting two outs in relief. Steve Bedrosian was the loser.

New York 7, Houston 1--Unbeaten Frank Viola became the National League’s first six-game winner as the Mets won at New York.

Viola joined the Oakland Athletics’ Dave Stewart as the only six-game winners in the major leagues. The left-hander, who gave up one run and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings, has yielded only five earned runs in 42 2/3 innings.

Houston’s run came in the seventh inning and ended Viola’s scoreless streak of 20 innings.

Center fielder Daryl Boston, claimed from the Chicago White Sox on waivers April 30, drove in three runs with three hits, including his first home run with the Mets.

Kevin McReynolds, who homered in each game Sunday to help the Mets sweep a doubleheader, drove in two runs with a double and sacrifice fly.

Pittsburgh 4, San Diego 1--Barry Bonds’ home run and two San Diego mistakes helped the Pirates score four runs in the first inning at Pittsburgh.

Bob Walk gave up five hits in six innings for his second consecutive victory over San Diego.

Bonds homered as the leadoff hitter in the first for the 20th time in his five-year career. Jay Bell reached base when third baseman Mike Pagliarulo bobbled his grounder and scored one out later on Bobby Bonilla’s double.

Bonilla, having moved to third on an infield single by Don Slaught, scored on Bruce Hurst’s third wild pitch of the season, with Slaught moving to second.

Andy Van Slyke followed with a run-scoring single.

Atlanta 9, Chicago 8--Jeff Blauser’s second home run of the game, a two-run shot in the ninth inning, gave the Braves a victory at Chicago.

Trailing, 8-7, the Braves’ Mark Lemke led off the ninth with a walk. Blauser, who entered the game without a home run this season, then hit one over the left-field wall off loser Mitch Williams to put the Braves ahead.

Charlie Kerfeld got the victory after 1 2/3 innings in relief. Joe Boever got the last three outs for his third save.

Atlanta’s Dale Murphy extended his hitting streak to seven games with an RBI single in the first inning.