NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Johnson Helps Mets Win and Lose in Split

Howard Johnson had an up-and-down Thursday night.

Johnson singled home two runs in a four-run eighth inning that carried the New York Mets to a 10-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in the first game of a doubleheader at Cincinnati.

The Mets moved past the Pittsburgh Pirates by three percentage points by winning the opener, but Johnson’s error led to three Cincinnati runs in the first inning of the nightcap as the Reds got a split, 3-2.

Danny Jackson (4-2) scattered five hits for the Reds in the second game. Former Met Randy Myers relieved Jackson with two out in the eighth to get his 18th save.

Chris Sabo led off the bottom of the first of the second game with a walk and took third on Barry Larkin’s double off Ron Darling (2-5). Johnson fielded Eric Davis’ grounder at third, but his throw to first sailed into the Reds’ dugout, with Sabo and Larkin scoring, and Davis taking second. Davis scored on a single by Hal Morris.

It was Johnson’s 19th error.

In the opener, Cincinnati’s Rob Dibble gave up a go-ahead double to rookie Todd Hundley, his first major league run batted in, to give the Mets a 4-3 lead in the eighth. Johnson followed with a two-run single, and Dave Magadan added a sacrifice fly.

Dwight Gooden (9-5) won his sixth consecutive start, giving up nine hits over seven innings and striking out six before being replaced by Bob Ojeda.

Pittsburgh 4, San Diego 3--Jeff King’s run-scoring single in the 15th inning gave the Pirates a victory at Pittsburgh and a one-game lead over the Mets.

The setback spoiled the debut of San Diego Manager Greg Riddoch in a game marred by a brawl in the first inning.

After Pittsburgh’s Barry Bonds hit a three-run homer in the first inning, Andy Benes hit Sid Bream on the right knee with the next pitch, triggering a brief benches-clearing shoving match. Pirate reserve outfielder R.J. Reynolds was the only player ejected.

San Francisco 4, St. Louis 2--Matt Williams got his league-leading 70th run batted in and Kevin Mitchell hit his 22nd homer as the Giants won at St. Louis.

Scott Garrelts (6-7) retired 16 of the last 17 batters for his second complete game as he beat St. Louis for the first time since June 23, 1988. He gave up seven hits, struck out two and walked one.

The Cardinals’ Denny Walling hit a two-run double in the fourth inning.

Montreal 3, Atlanta 0--Tim Wallach hit a three-run homer and Marc Gardner pitched his third shutout of the season as the Expos won at Atlanta.

Gardner (6-4) retired the last 17 batters, give up four hits and striking out 10.

Houston 7, Philadelphia 4--Rookie Javier Ortiz hit his first major league homer and drove in three runs as the Astros beat the Phillies at Houston.

Houston’s Bill Gullickson (6-6) settled down after he hit Lenny Dykstra with a pitch to start the game and Darren Daulton followed with his third homer of the season.