NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Pirates’ Lead Cut to 2 1/2 as Bullpen Fails Again

Manager Jim Leyland of the Pittsburgh Pirates is trying to win a pennant without a reliable bullpen.

Another bullpen failure was costly at Pittsburgh as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pirates, 3-2. The New York Mets beat the Cubs at Chicago, so the Pirates’ lead in the National League East was cut to 2 1/2 games.

The Pirates have maintained their lead despite an erratic bullpen that is 26-18 with a 3.07 earned-run average after being 21-7 in mid-July.

Barry Bonds’ 33rd home run in the sixth inning gave the Pirates a 2-1 lead and Randy Tomlin carried a six-hitter into the eighth.

It was Bonds’ eighth homer in 12 games and his fourth in four games. His 33 homers are the most by a Pirate since Willie Stargell’s 44 in 1973.

A one-out pinch-hit double by Milt Thompson and Tomlin’s only walk prompted Leyland to bring in Stan Belinda from the bullpen.

But Belinda, a rookie, walked three, including one with the bases loaded, and threw a wild pitch that brought in a run. Bill Landrum replaced Belinda and retired all four batters he faced, but it was too late.

In Chicago Wednesday, the Pirates took an 8-1 lead, but when Doug Drabek faltered in the eighth, Leyland almost left him in too long rather than go to the bullpen. The Pirates won, 8-7.

However, Leyland doesn’t blame his bullpen.

“Everybody wants to pick on the bullpen,” Leyland said. “But we did a poor job offensively. I don’t mind getting beat . . . but we were up there at the plate with no purpose.”

The Pirates let Ken Hill (5-4) off the hook. Although Hill walked five in the first inning, Pittsburgh scored only one run. After a lead-off walk, Wally Backman was out stealing. And, with the bases loaded, second baseman Jose Oquendo caught Mike LaValliere’s line drive to end the inning.

Hill threw 41 pitches in the first, then didn’t walk another batter. He struck out seven before Lee Smith came in to get the last four outs for his 27th save.

New York 11, Chicago 5--The Mets lead the league in runs scored because they have games, such as this one at Chicago.

After losing five in a row, the last four by a total of six runs, New York scored six runs in the fifth inning and moved to within 2 1/2 games of first place.

It was the second victory in nine road games for the Mets, who are 51-27 in Shea Stadium but 33-40 on the road.

Daryl Boston and Darryl Strawberry hit two-run homers for the Mets. Strawberry has 36 home runs and 106 RBIs.

Despite leading the league in runs, the Mets are only 31-38 in games decided by one or two runs.

Andre Dawson stole his 300th career base and joined Willie Mays as the only players in major league history with 300 homers, 300 steals and 2,000 hits.

Philadelphia 3, Montreal 2--Mickey Morandini hit his first major league home run and the Phillies beat the Expos for the second time in a row. Montreal had won six in a row over the Pirates and Mets, the two top clubs in the East.

The Expos trail Pittsburgh by 5 1/2 games and New York by three in the East.

Len Dykstra was one for three and his average remained at .330.

Atlanta 3, Houston 1--Charlie Leibrandt pitched a six-hitter at Atlanta, improving his record to 9-10. Ron Gant drove in two runs for the Braves.

The Astros, who have the best home record in the West (45-30) are the worst in the majors on the road (25-52).