NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Pirates’ Drabek Loses No-Hitter in the Ninth

Doug Drabek was only one out from a no-hitter Friday night at Philadelphia and merely needed to retire a .188 hitter to finish it.

But utility man Sil Campusano, in the game only because it was a rout, spoiled the bid, hitting a 3-and-2 pitch to center for the Phillies’ only hit.

Sid Bream and Andy Van Slyke hit two-run home runs and the Pirates, staying on the heels of the New York Mets in the National League East, won, 11-0.

Until Campusano, who entered the game in the sixth inning to give center fielder Len Dykstra a rest, got his 10th hit in 49 at-bats, Drabek (14-4) had been nearly flawless, walking only John Kruk in the fourth and striking out five.

There have been seven no-hitters in the majors this season and Drabek’s was the eighth one-hitter.

Drabek, who won only once, lost three and had two no-decisions in June, saw a string of 13 no-hit innings against the Phillies ended by Campusano’s single.

“I wanted it,” Drabek said of the possible no-hitter. “It was a fastball, but I got it up a little. I was trying to go inside, but I guess it wasn’t inside enough.

“I didn’t tell myself anything. When I started to think about it, I just shook my head and said, ‘Don’t think about it.’ I’m glad to get the win, that’s the main thing. It’s nice to have 11 runs.”

“It’s one of those things,” Leyva said. “If it’s a close game, Lenny (Dykstra) stays in there and maybe it’s a no-hitter, who knows?”

San Diego 3, Cincinnati 2--After the Reds won at San Diego Wednesday, Manager Lou Piniella breathed a sigh of relief.

“We’ve got 18 of our next 20 at home and we have a pretty good lead,” he said. “We figure to fatten up at home.”

Their record on the home stand became 0-2 when hot-hitting Jack Clark doubled home the winning run with one out in the top of the ninth inning.

The Reds, who made the score 2-2 in the eighth on Chris Sabo’s 21st home run, loaded the bases, but couldn’t score the go-ahead run.

New York 5, St. Louis 4--In 15 consecutive appearances, Lee Smith had been brilliant in relief for the Cardinals. But he failed to protect a 4-2 lead in the ninth inning in this one at St. Louis.

Gregg Jefferies’ run-scoring single capped a three-run ninth inning that enabled the Mets to stay a game ahead of the Pirates in the East.

Alex Trevino, signed by the Mets Thursday after being released by the Astros, and Dave Magadan also drove in runs for the Mets in the ninth.

Chicago 10, Montreal 4--Luis Salazar is a utility man for the Cubs. The Expos think he’s an all-star.

Salazar, filling in at third base at Chicago, had three hits, including a double and a home run, and drove in two runs for the Cubs.

“The guy flat out kills us,” Montreal Manager Bob Rodgers said. Against the Expos this season, Salazar is nine for 21 (.429) and is .292 against them lifetime.

“Luis is amazing,” Cub Manager Don Zimmer said. “Last night he was 0 for 5 and looked like he was swatting flies. Today he’s a terror.”

Zimmer was feeling pretty good early. Pitcher Mike Harkey (10-5) doubled in two runs in the first inning to cap a six-run rally.

Houston 3, Atlanta 0--There were several teams that reportedly made a pitch for Mike Scott, the veteran right-hander of the Astros.

When they see what he did in this game at Houston, they will probably regret they didn’t offer a little more.

Scott pitched a three-hitter and struck out six to improve to 9-10.

Scott has four of the Astros’ complete games and both of their shutouts this season.