NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : As if Reds Needed Help, Jackson Looks Strong

Those waiting for the Cincinnati Reds to fold might have a long wait.

The return to form of left-hander Danny Jackson is one reason why the Reds have a hold on first place in the National League West.

Although his record is only 3-2, Jackson, a 23-game winner in 1988, has pitched well in nine of his last 10 starts.

Jackson, on the disabled list because of a shoulder problem most of last season, gave up five hits in 7 1/3 innings Friday night at Philadelphia in a 4-1 victory.

Jackson was on his way to a shutout until Carmelo Martinez homered in the eighth inning. Randy Myers, the third Cincinnati pitcher, retired the last three batters and leads the league with 17 saves.

Barry Larkin, Billy Hatcher and Hal Morris hit home runs for the Reds, who are 9 1/2 games ahead of San Francisco.

“My arm must be fine,” said Jackson, who was 6-11 last season. “I threw 126 pitches.

“I had some good defensive plays in key situations. This team is going to score runs sooner or later. So my job is to keep it close.”

New York 10, Atlanta 7--The Mets are so hot that they can turn one mistake into a victory.

Rookie left-hander Steve Avery of the Braves had a 2-1 lead going into the eighth inning at Atlanta.

But second baseman Jeff Treadway threw away Dave Magadan’s grounder and it opened the door for a six-run inning. Avery got two outs, including Darryl Strawberry on strikes, but walked Kevin McReynolds. Mark Carreon singled to tie the score and Kevin Elster broke it open with a two-run double.

Mackey Sasser hit a three-run homer in the ninth for the Mets.

“You never know,” Met Manager Bud Harrelson said. “The kid (Avery) was on a roll and all hyped up. He got out of some jams. But finally, I think, he tired.”

The Mets have won five in a row, 16 of 17 and 23 of 26.

Montreal 3, Houston 2--The Astros have lost 19 of their last 20 road games.

Jerry Goff and Andres Galarraga each singled in a run in the eighth inning as the Expos broke a 1-1 tie to hand the Astros their sixth loss in a row.

Although Oil Can Boyd gave up only a home run to Franklin Stubbs and one other hit in six innings, he didn’t get the victory. Reliever Bill Sampen (7-1) retired all four he faced to win it.

St. Louis 5, San Diego 3--Pedro Guerrero drove in two runs at San Diego and the Cardinals made the return of Red Schoendienst as manager a success. Schoendienst, who won a World Series in 1967, became interim manager after Whitey Herzog resigned.

John Tudor (7-3) and three relief pitchers held the Padres to four hits. Mark Parent and Garry Templeton hit home runs, but the Padres lost for the ninth time in 10 games.

Lee Smith got the last four outs for his 11th save.

Chicago 5, San Francisco 2--Luis Salazar is on a hot streak and is keeping the Cubs out of last place in the East.

Salazar hit a 3-and-0 pitch from Scott Garrelts (5-7) for an opposite-field home run in windy Candlestick Park and the Cubs held on for their second victory in a row.

Salazar drove in the final Cub run with a single in the eighth. Since June 28, Salazar has four home runs, two doubles and 13 hits in 33 at-bats for a .394 average.

Rookie Shawn Boskie (3-4) went 6 1/3 innings, giving up one run, and the Cubs, using four relief pitchers, managed to hang on for the victory.