NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Mets Held to Four Hits, Lose Again

When the New York Mets were beaten four times in a row by left-handers, the last three in the important series at Pittsburgh, they dismissed it as no big deal.

Now, it appears, the Mets can’t hit right-handers either.

Rookie right-hander Jose DeJesus (5-6) held the Mets to four hits Friday night at Philadelphia and the Phillies won, 4-1. It was New York’s fifth consecutive loss.

After Kevin McReynolds singled after two walks in the first inning to get the Mets a run, DeJesus, who shut them out on two hits the first time he faced them Aug. 7, was in charge. He allowed only two runners past first base in the last eight innings.

All the help he needed came from Dale Murphy, who singled home runs in the first and third innings.

In their losing streak, the Mets have only three runs and 20 hits in 45 innings.

There was no warning of the hitting slump. In the two games preceding a 1-0 loss at St. Louis, the Mets had 19 runs, 25 hits and three home runs. They have one home run during the skid.

Although the Mets remained 3 1/2 games behind Pittsburgh in the National League East, they added to their road woes. The Mets have the best home record in the league, but away from Shea Stadium they are 31-38.

Montreal 4, Pittsburgh 1--An error by first baseman Sid Bream allowed two runs to score in the fifth inning at Pittsburgh and the Expos ended the Pirates’ six-game winning streak.

The Expos are 9-4 against the division-leading Pirates, thanks in part to the schedule.

Each time the Expos have played the Pirates, it has followed a tough series between the Pirates and Mets.

Another solid performance by Oil Can Boyd (9-5) aided the Expos. Boyd gave up three hits in 6 2/3 innings.

John Smiley (8-8) is winless in five starts against the Expos. He gave up six hits and three runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Reliever Jerry Reuss, recalled by the Pirates on Wednesday, pitched 1 1/3 innings and became the 22nd player to perform in four decades.

St. Louis 4, Chicago 3--Bob Tewksbury gave up a two-run home run to Andre Dawson in the first inning at Chicago, settled down to pitch a strong seven innings and improved his record to 10-5.

Tom Pagnozzi, catching while Todd Zeile is being tried at third, drove in two of the Cardinal runs.

Houston 2, San Francisco 1--A bases-loaded walk broke a scoreless tie in the ninth inning at San Francisco and the Astros added another run on a sacrifice fly.

Gerald Young singled off pitcher John Burkett’s leg to start the ninth and took second on Franklin Stubbs’ single.

Burkett (11-7) walked Glenn Davis to load the bases and reliever Francisco Oliveras walked Ken Caminiti on four pitches. After Craig Biggio struck out, Eric Anthony hit a sacrifice fly.

The Astros’ Danny Darwin (11-2) gave up seven hits and left after a leadoff single by Matt Williams in the ninth. Darwin lowered his earned-run average to 2.01.

Atlanta 4, San Diego 1--Charlie Leibrandt pitched a four-hitter for his 100th career victory and Andre Thomas hit a two-run double at San Diego.

The run was unearned, giving Leibrandt (8-8) a string of 25 innings without an unearned run.