NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Brooks’ Home Run Gives Mets Victory in 10th

After being gone for six years, Hubie Brooks has been back with the New York Mets for only two games. Already he is something of a hero.

Brooks, who stole home with the decisive run in the season opener, hit a home run with two out in the 10th inning Tuesday at New York to give the Mets a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Mets, who were expected to be more or less powerless with the departure of Darryl Strawberry, drew even when another newcomer, veteran catcher Rick Cerone, hit a home run with one out in the ninth.

It was the first at-bat as a Met for Cerone, 36. He entered the game to catch in the eighth and hit the home run off former Met Roger McDowell.

In the opener Monday Brooks, never known for his speed, doubled in the fourth inning and was on third with Tom Herr on first. They executed a double steal and the Mets won, 2-1.

Brooks, 34, began his career as an infielder with the Mets in 1980. In December, 1984, he went to Montreal in the Gary Carter trade. He signed as a free agent with the Dodgers in 1990 and hit 20 home runs and drove in 91 runs. But in the off-season he was traded back to the Mets for Bob Ojeda.

A favorite with Mets’ fans before he left, he wasted no time regaining his popularity.

“I’m glad to see the fans didn’t forget me,” Brooks, now an outfielder, said. “I always wanted to come back to where I started.”

Joe Boever, the loser after retiring the first two men he faced, was upset over the 2-and-1 pitch Brooks hit over the wall in left.

“Hubie just hacked at it,” Boever said. “The pitch was way above his head. Most people don’t swing at a pitch that far out of the strike zone.”

The Mets hit 172 home runs last season. But when Strawberry signed with the Dodgers, the Mets signed speedy Vince Coleman and have become a running team. In the first two games they have stolen four bases, none by Coleman.

Cerone, who was with the Yankees last season, signed with the Mets as a free agent.

Frank Viola pitched six innings, giving up a run and eight hits. Randy Ready singled in the Phillies’ run with two out in the sixth.

Doug Simons, the former Pepperdine star, pitched two scoreless innings in his major league debut and got the win.

“I don’t think we’ll completely ignore the home run just because Strawberry’s gone,” Manager Bud Harrelson said.

St. Louis 4, Chicago 1--The hustle of the Cardinals spoiled the debut as a Cub in Chicago for $2-million pitcher Danny Jackson.

The hard-throwing left-hander, who signed as a free agent for four years and $10.5 million, was in a 1-1 duel with Bryn Smith until the eighth.

Felix Jose hit his second double with one out. A walk and Tom Pagnozzi’s single loaded the bases. Paul Assenmacher replaced Jackson. Jose Oquendo hit a roller to short and Pagnozzi hustled to beat the throw to second while Jose scored the winning run.

Pittsburgh 4, Montreal 3--Bullpen ace Tim Burke hit Gary Redus with the bases loaded in the eighth inning at Pittsburgh to force in the winning run.

The Pirates, held to one hit, rallied from a 3-0 deficit. In the eighth, Burke gave up only one hit, but he walked two and hit two to lose it.

San Diego 7, San Francisco 4--Benito Santiago went four for four and drove in the winning run in a four-run eighth-inning at San Diego.

Will Clark’s two run triple in the eighth gave the Giants a 4-3 lead, but the Padres battled back. Tony Gwynn’s run-scoring single tied it.