NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Mets Finally Get Some Sights for Road-Sore Eyes

Darryl Strawberry, Frank Viola and the rest of the New York Mets finally saw some things Monday night that they liked--Shea Stadium, a right-handed pitcher and a victory.

Strawberry hit his 32nd home run and drove in three runs and Viola won his 18th game as the Mets began a key home stand by beating the St. Louis Cardinals, 10-1.

The Mets returned to Shea, where they have won eight consecutive games and have the best home record in baseball at 47-22. Their victory follows a 2-6 road trip that dropped them 3 1/2 games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League East.

The Pirates won at Philadelphia Monday to remain 3 1/2 games ahead. The Mets will play 10 consecutive games at home, including two against the Pirates; Pittsburgh plays 10 consecutive road games.

Left-handed pitchers have been the Mets’ downfall all season. The Mets saw six left-handers on their latest trip and are 22-27 in games started by left-handers.

But this time, right-hander Jose DeLeon (7-16) was on the mound and the Mets broke loose. Strawberry hit an RBI single in the first inning and a two-run home run in the fourth inning.

Viola (18-9), second in the league in victories, gave up seven hits, no walks and six strikeouts in eight innings before getting ninth-inning relief help from John Franco.

Pittsburgh 3, Philadelphia 2--Bobby Bonilla came back from being hit by a pitch to drive in the winning run in the ninth-inning at Philadelphia.

The score was 2-2 in the seventh inning and Gary Redus was on third base when Bonilla, with a 1-and-2 count, was hit on the left side of his helmet by Terry Mulholland. Bonilla sprawled in the dirt and lay still for about a minute, then got up and went to first base.

Mulholland worked out of the jam by getting Barry Bonds to hit into a fielder’s choice.

But Bonilla returned in the ninth inning to drive in Wally Backman from third base with a sacrifice fly to Von Hayes.

The Phillies blew a chance in the eighth inning when they loaded the bases with one out but couldn’t score against Stan Belinda (3-4), the Pirates’ third pitcher that inning.

Joe Boever (3-6), who walked Backman to start the Pirates’ ninth, took the defeat.

San Francisco 7, Atlanta 6--Pinch-hitter Robby Thompson’s bunt single with one out in the 10th inning scored Kevin Mitchell to lift the Giants at San Francisco.

Mitchell opened the 10th inning with a walk against Kent Mercker (4-5). Matt Williams singled, moving Mitchell to second. Terry Kennedy sacrificed the runners to second and third before Mike Benjamin walked to load the bases. Thompson, pinch-hitting for Mike Kingery, bunted on a 3-and-1 pitch to easily score Mitchell.

Montreal 7, Chicago 4--Tim Wallach had two hits and drove in two runs and rookie Chris Nabholz earned his fifth victory in his last six starts as the Expos won at Chicago.

Nabholz (5-0), yet to lose in the majors after seven starts, pitched five innings and gave up four runs on seven hits. He struck out four and walked four before getting relief help from Dale Mahorcic.

Tim Burke got the last out for his 18th save.

Cub reliever Mitch Williams, picked to start shortly before game time, lasted three innings. He gave up four runs on four hits and two walks while striking out one. Williams replaced Mike Harkey, who developed stiffness in his right shoulder while warming up.