NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Duncan Leads Reds Past Mets, 4-2

Mariano Duncan is finally becoming the ballplayer the Dodgers thought he would.

After a brilliant rookie season in 1985, the Dodgers predicted stardom for the infielder from the Dominican Republic. After two disappointing seasons and another in the minors, the Dodgers gave up on him. They traded him to Cincinnati about a year ago.

Duncan, 27, has become the Reds’ regular second baseman and is a major reason they have led the National League West all season.

He had two hits, scored two runs and drove in another Friday night at Cincinnati to lead the Reds to a 4-2 victory over the New York Mets in the battle between division leaders.

Frank Viola (12-4) was in and out of trouble until Duncan singled to open the fourth inning and Barry Larkin drove him in with a single. In the fifth, Duncan’s double was the key hit in a three-run inning that gave Tom Browning (9-5) the victory.

In the first inning, the Reds had runners on second and third with nobody out. But Viola struck out Eric Davis, Glenn Braggs and Paul O’Neill.

“Usually if you don’t get to Viola early in the game, you’re in trouble,” Red Manager Lou Piniella said. “We let him off the hook again in the second, I said to myself, ‘My God, are we going to see this guy straighten out and beat us?’ ”

Browning had a perfect game until Darryl Strawberry singled off the right field wall leading off the fourth inning.

Strawberry, who learned the Mets had broken off contract talks shortly before the game, said he would try free agency.

Later, he continued the streak that led him to say he thought he should get a contract close to the $23.5 million Jose Canseco signed for five years. Strawberry hit his 23rd home run to spoil the shutout. He has hit six homers in his last nine games, 15 in his last 25.

“They have backed off on negotiations,” Strawberry said of the Mets. “It’ll take a five-year deal to keep me in New York and they’ve offered only a three-year deal.”

Pittsburgh 4, San Diego 1--With the Mets faltering on the road, the Pirates improved the best home record in the league to 25-10 and stretched their lead in the East to two games.

The Pirates turned a suicide squeeze and a hit-and-run single into two of their runs to give them 12 victories in their last 16 games.

Doug Drabek retired the first 11 Padres, then went on to improve to 10-4.

Stan Belinda pitched 1 1/3 innings to get his fourth save. Pirate relievers have yielded one run in the last 43 innings.

The Padres have lost nine of 10 games against Pittsburgh this season. They are 0-2 under Manager Greg Riddoch and have lost 12 of their last 14.

The Pirates are 19 games above .500 for the first time since 1979, when they finished 98-64 and won the World Series.

San Francisco 6, St. Louis 1--When Don Robinson is pitching for the Giants, he also gives them an extra bat in the lineup.

Robinson’s run-scoring double in the fifth inning at St. Louis broke a 1-1 tie, and the Giants stayed 7 1/2 games behind the Reds.

Robinson also pitched a strong seven innings, giving up four hits. Jeff Brantley had two shutout innings for his 14th save.

Brett Butler had four hits for the Giants, and Kevin Mitchell hit his 23rd home run. Butler has 18 hits in his last 36 at-bats.

Philadelphia 4, Houston 2--Dickie Thon hit two home runs against his former club at Houston to lead the Phillies.

Thon had only two home runs in 275 at-bats this season before hitting a two-run shot in the first inning.

It was another poor outing for Mike Scott (6-9).

Rookie pitcher Jose DeJesus gave up four hits in eight innings for his first major league victory with help from Roger McDowell and Darrell Akerfelds.