NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Giants Ride Mitchell’s Three Home Runs, 9-8

Kevin Mitchell’s power was never in question, but on Friday night the San Francisco left fielder outdid himself.

Mitchell hit three home runs in a game for the first time in his career and drove in five runs as the Giants defeated the Pirates, 9-8, at Pittsburgh.

“He’s strong. He’s awesome,” San Francisco Manager Roger Craig said. “Every time he swings the bat, he’s got a chance to hit the ball 500 feet.”

Mitchell, who led the major leagues with 47 homers last season, raised his season total to 11. His second home run came off Bob Kipper with two runners on in the fifth inning and gave the Giants a 7-1 lead.

“The one thing I’m trying to do is level out my swing,” Mitchell said. “That’s what I’m working on. I was swinging up on the ball too much.”

After the Pirates scored four runs in the sixth to get within two, Mitchell hit a solo home run off Bob Patterson in the seventh.

The last Giant player to hit three home runs in a game was Darrell Evans, against the Houston Astros on June 15, 1983.

Steve Bedrosian came on in the ninth and gave up a long home run to Bobby Bonilla with one out. The Pirates then put runners on first and third with one out, but reliever Jeff Brantley retired the side for his fourth save.

Mitchell, Will Clark and Jose Uribe each hit home runs in the first four innings off starter Walt Terrell (1-4).

The Pirates have lost eight of their last 10 games to fall one-half game behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East.

Cincinnati 5, Montreal 0--Jack Armstrong gave up three hits in eight innings to become the league’s first eight-game winner as the Reds won at Montreal.

Armstrong, who has has pitched 22 consecutive scoreless innings, dropped his league-leading ERA to 1.61, struck out seven and walked none. Randy Myers got the last three outs, giving up one hit, for the Reds’ sixth shutout of the season.

Armstrong lost a chance to be the first Red since Tom Seaver in 1977 to throw back-to-back shutouts when Manager Lou Piniella brought in Myers.

“It was the right decision,” Armstrong said. “It was a close game. I’m not greedy.”

The only other eight-game winner in baseball is the Oakland Athletics’ Dave Stewart.

Dennis Martinez gave up five hits in eight innings, but equaled a career high with 10 strikeouts.

The victory marked the 22nd time in 23 games that the first-place Reds have won when they scored first.

San Diego 5, New York 4--Benito Santiago hit a three-run home run in the first inning off struggling David Cone and the Padres held on to win at New York.

Bip Roberts led off the game against Cone with a walk and stolen base. Tony Gwynn walked one out later, and Santiago followed with his sixth homer.

Cone has given up 11 first-inning runs in seven starts.

The Mets came back against winner Dennis Rasmussen when Gregg Jefferies led off the bottom of the first with his sixth home run. However, San Diego utility player Phil Stephenson hit a home run in the second to restore the Padres’ three-run lead.

With two out in the third, Joe Carter hit his sixth homer, the seventh allowed by Cone this season. Cone gave up five hits and five runs in four innings. In 40 innings, he has allowed 44 hits and 31 runs.

Philadelphia 5, Atlanta 4--Charlie Hayes hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning at Philadelphia and the Phillies rallied to get their fourth consecutive victory and move into first place in the National League East.

The Phillies trailed, 3-2, starting the eighth, when Von Hayes was hit by a pitch. After Ricky Jordan flied out, John Kruk’s routine fly ball was dropped for an error by left fielder Lonnie Smith.

Charlie Hayes, who earlier had extended his hitting streak to nine games, hit reliever Joe Hesketh’s first pitch over the left-center field fence.

The Braves had taken a 3-2 lead on solo home runs by Jim Presley, Dale Murphy and Greg Olson. It was Murphy’s fourth homer of the week and 361st of his career to tie him with Joe DiMaggio and Dave Winfield for 35th place on the all-time list.

Atlanta starter Tom Glavine pitched six innings. He gave up a first-inning run, and then blanked the Phillies until lifted for a pinch-hitter in the seventh.

Jeff Parrett pitched one inning for the victory, and Roger McDowell got the last three outs for his 12th save.