NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Mets Are in First Alone After Beating Cardinals

The New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals have battled for the National League East division title for much of the past decade. The Cardinals would usually counter the Mets’ edge in power with speed and slick defense.

But in the first year of the new decade, the Cardinals are in last place.

And Friday, they were the victims as the Mets took over sole possession of first place.

With Frank Viola cruising to his league-leading 14th victory, the Mets scored early and often Friday night at New York and romped, 10-1.

The Cardinals’ defense, suspect all season, helped the Mets score five runs in the first inning and four more in the third. With Viola (14-5) giving up only three hits in eight innings, it was not close.

Milt Thompson, playing center field for the Cardinals because Willie McGee has a sore knee, contributed to the Mets’ rout, misjudging Daryl Boston’s fly ball into a two-run triple that capped a five-run first inning and misplaying Dave Magadan’s line drive into a bases-loaded triple in the four-run third.

The Mets, the best run-scoring team in the majors, had some solid hits, too. In fact, only Darryl Strawberry (0 for 5) of the regulars, failed to contribute to the 14-hit attack.

Magadan had three hits and drove in four runs.

Viola, who had not won since before the All-Star break, was pitching with only three days rest because Dwight Gooden, bothered by an aching shoulder, skipped a turn.

Cardinal starter Bryn Smith (7-8), tagged for seven runs in two innings, said his right shoulder is causing him trouble.

The Mets have won 20 of their last 24 home games.

“We’re not ready to celebrate,” Manager Bud Harrelson said. “We’ll do that when we clinch.”

Philadelphia 5, Pittsburgh 3--Since the second week of the season, the Pirates had occupied first place in the East or been within half a game of first. Three times they lost the top spot, only to regain it the next day.

But, with Dennis Cook pitching five shutout innings at Pittsburgh and Charlie Hayes hitting a home run, the Phillies knocked the Pirates a full game back.

The Pirates have lost four of their last five games.

Cook, replacing Jose DeJesus, who walked in two runs in the first inning, gave up only two hits in his five inning stint.

Chicago 2, Montreal 0--Pinch-hitter Gary Varsho’s two-out single in the 10th scored the Cubs’ go-ahead run, then Varsho scored on Ryne Sandberg’s first hit in 18 at-bats in the victory at Montreal.

It was the third win in a row for Greg Maddux (7-9), and by far his most impressive. Maddux has spent more than half this season trying to get untracked after putting together 37 victories in the previous two seasons for the Cubs. He had a two-month stretch during which he made 13 consecutive starts without a victory.

But that has changed. He limited the Expos to two hits in nine innings.

After Marquis Grissom’s infield hit with one out in the first, Maddux retired 17 in a row before Grissom singled again in the seventh.

San Francisco 4, Cincinnati 3--Pinch-runner Scott Garrelts scored from second on a single by pinch-hitter Bill Bathe with one out in the ninth at San Francisco to hand the Reds their fifth defeat in a row.

The Reds argued vehemently that catcher Joe Oliver had the plate blocked and that Garrelts never touched the plate. The Reds lost the argument and their lead in the West fell to 7 1/2 games.

For the second game in a row, the Reds took the lead with three runs in the first inning as Paul O’Neill hit a three-run home run.

But Don Robinson stopped the Reds the rest of the way to improve his record to 7-1.

Rick Leach and Robbie Thompson hit home runs for the Giants.

San Diego 6, Houston 2--It’s one streak after another for the Padres. After a long losing streak, they have won five in a row at San Diego.

Jack Clark hit a three-run home run and Joe Carter hit a two-run home run to lead the Padres.