NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Mets Win on Five Homers, One by Strawberry

Darryl Strawberry capped a five-run seventh inning with a three-run home run Thursday night and the New York Mets rallied to beat the Atlanta Braves, 9-8, for their 22nd victory in 25 games.

Strawberry’s home run, his 21st, was one of five the Mets hit in the game at Atlanta. The five home runs are the most the Mets have hit in a game since April 4, 1988.

Mark Carreon hit his ninth home run in the second inning, Dave Magadan hit his third in the third inning and Orlando Mercado hit his third leading off the seventh, all against Charlie Leibrandt.

Kevin Elster homered for the eventual winning run in the eighth.

Howard Johnson and Magadan followed Mercado’s home run with singles, and Joe Hesketh (1-2) relieved Leibrandt. He yielded a run-scoring double to Gregg Jefferies and Strawberry’s homer, which gave the Mets an 8-7 lead.

Atlanta’s Ron Gant knocked in six runs and had four hits, including his 16th and 17th homer runs.

Gant doubled in a run in a three-run first inning, singled in another run in the second, then hit his three-run homer in the fourth and a solo shot in the ninth.

Wally Whitehurst (1-0) picked up the victory for the Mets, giving up three runs on four hits in 4 2/3 innings of relief. John Franco pitched the ninth for his 16th save.

Cincinnati 9, Philadelphia 2--Jack Armstrong pitched seven strong innings for his third consecutive victory and 11th of the season as the Reds trounced the Phillies at Philadelphia.

Armstrong (11-3), selected Thursday to the NL All-Star team, gave up a home run to Carmelo Martinez in the second inning. He held the Phillies to five hits, striking out five and walking one, before Rob Dibble and Norm Charlton finished up.

Hal Morris had three hits for the Reds, including his first major league home run, and three runs batted in. Barry Larkin had a home run and single.

Ken Howell (8-6), whose start was pushed back two days because of pain under his right arm, lasted two innings. Howell, who gave up five earned runs and six hits, has lost his last three decisions after winning six in a row.

St. Louis 4, San Diego 1--Tom Pagnozzi hit a tiebreaking double during a three-run ninth inning at San Diego and the Cardinals sent the Padres to their eighth defeat in nine games.

Greg Harris (4-3), pitching for the fifth consecutive game, was the Cardinals’ victim in the ninth.

Lee Smith (2-2) pitched two perfect innings, striking out the side in the ninth.

Montreal 11, Houston 0--Rookie Mark Gardner pitched a four-hitter and the Expos routed the Astros at Montreal, handing Mike Scott his first loss in Olympic Stadium in more than eight years.

Gardner (5-4), struck out 11 and walked four.

Scott (6-8) had not lost in Montreal since April 25, 1982, when he pitched for the New York Mets, winning seven decisions in a row. Scott gave up seven earned runs on seven hits, walking six and striking out three in 3 2/3 innings.

Dave Martinez hit a two-run homer in the third, when the Expos scored five times.