NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Rijo Unhappy, Unsteady, but Reds Win, 6-5

Jose Rijo, who helped the Cincinnati Reds win the World Series, was unhappy when he wasn’t selected to pitch the season opener for the Reds Monday.

His disposition wasn’t helped by his performance Wednesday night in the second game of the season when he was shelled for four runs in the fourth inning by the Houston Astros.

Rijo, who won a game in the playoffs and two in the World Series after a 14-8 season, left trailing, 4-3, in the sixth.

But Todd Benzinger, hitless in his first seven at-bats, drove in four runs with single, a double and triple and the Reds rallied for a 6-5 victory.

Chris Sabo hit a two-run homer in the seventh for the other two Reds’ runs and made a winner of Ted Power in relief.

Before the game Rijo voiced his feelings. “I’m not happy about the situation,” he said. “They showed me no respect. I thought I earned my spot in the rotation as the Opening Day pitcher, and I wasn’t.”

Tom Browning drew the opening assignment, pitching the Reds to a 6-2 victory.

Philadelphia 8, New York 7--After nearly four hours and 24 walks, John Kruk hit a run-scoring single in the 10th inning and the Phillies avoided a three-game sweep at New York.

Twice the Phillies rallied from three-run deficits. Von Hayes and Darren Daulton each delivered two-out, bases-loaded doubles. Daulton’s came in the seventh to tie the score, 7-7.

Pittsburgh 6, Montreal 3--For the first 15 innings of the season, the Expos enjoyed themselves immensely in Pittsburgh. Now they can’t wait to get out of town.

The Pirates couldn’t score until the Expos built a 3-0 lead Tuesday night, but they pulled out that one and started hitting in the finale of the three-game series.

Zane Smith survived a shaky start to beat his former teammates. He is 7-2 since last Aug. 9 when the Expos traded him.

Bobby Bonilla had three hits, drove in two runs and scored another for the Pirates.

Ivan Calderon, acquired from the Chicago White Sox, singled in a run in the first inning and doubled in the other two Montreal runs in the second. He was six for 12 in the series, driving in six runs.

Chicago 2, St. Louis 0--Greg Maddux only wishes he could follow up his good starts with top pitching in midseason.

Maddux gave up just five hits in eight innings to win his first start. Last season he won four of his first five, then lost eight in a row.

George Bell drove in the first run off Jose DeLeon with a sacrifice fly. Rookie Gary Scott drove in the other with a single, his first major-league hit.

New Cub Dave Smith pitched a scoreless ninth for his 200th save.