NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Pitchers Still Having Problems Retiring Bonilla

If National League pitchers thought that Bobby Bonilla’s contract impasse with the Pittsburgh Pirates would affect his performance on the field, they can forget it.

Bonilla is still the hitter who makes the Pirates a threat in the East.

Bonilla had two hits, set up one run and drove in another Friday at Chicago to lead the Pirates to a 3-1 victory. Bonilla is batting .385 and the Pirates, after being shut out in their opener, have won three in a row.

John Smiley, battling back from an off season in 1990, gave up only four hits in eight innings and earned the victory. Smiley was 9-10 last season, but the Pirates averaged only 1.6 runs in his 10 defeats.

Smiley said he believed that his luck has changed. He pointed out that the wind was blowing as usual at Wrigley Field, but this time the winds were blowing toward the hitters.

“I got some pitches up in the strike zone and they hit them up in the air,” he said. “Fortunately, the wind was at my back and they were harmless.”

Bonilla, who turned down the latest contract offer, is reported to be on the trading block.

“Hey,” he said, “those things aren’t going to affect me. I’m going to play hard because I always play hard. If you don’t like to play, you shouldn’t be playing.”

Andy Van Slyke, who scored two runs, was hit by a pitch in the fourth inning, went to second on Bonilla’s hit and came around on two infield outs. He led off the sixth with a triple and scored on Bonilla’s single. Smiley was shaky in the first inning, giving up two hits. Then, he pitched well until the eighth when a double and single produced the Cubs’ run.

Vicente Palacios retired the Cubs in the ninth on eight pitches to record the save.

Houston 3, San Francisco 2--It’s a new season, but Mark Portugal is still too much for the Giants to solve at the Astrodome.

With Ken Caminiti driving in two runs, Portugal pitched a strong seven innings to beat the Giants for the sixth time in a row at Houston.

Caminiti doubled home the two runs in the third inning after singles by Steve Finley and Craig Biggio. Finley, who was obtained from Baltimore in the trade for Glenn Davis, had three singles.

Veteran Rick Reuschel started for the Giants. He pitched six innings, giving up nine hits and three runs.

Portugal started the game impressively. He retired the first six batters, three on strikeouts.

Philadelphia 11, St. Louis 4--John Kruk drove in four runs at Philadelphia and Len Dykstra hit a two-run homer and scored four runs.

Pat Combs, who was the top Phillie pitcher last year with 10 victories, gave up four hits and two runs in five innings.

Jamie Moyer, who made the club in the spring as a free agent, was replaced with none out in the third inning. He yielded seven hits and five runs.

Montreal 4, New York 3--Former Dodger Gilberto Reyes bounced a double off third baseman Gregg Jefferies’ glove with two out in the 11th inning at New York to drive in the winning run.

Pinch-hitter Nelson Santovenia singled with one out off John Franco. Andres Galarraga struck out, but Spike Owen singled. Reyes’ line drive caromed off Jefferies glove into foul territory and Santovenia scored.

Tim Burke gave up one hit in 2 1/3 innings to get the victory.

Although the Mets are having success with their go-go offense, they are leaving plenty of runners on base. They have 15 stolen bases in five games, but they have stranded 52 runners.

Hubie Brooks hit his second home run for the Mets.

The Mets, who walked seven times, have drawn 42 walks.

“When we start hitting, we’ll be all right,” Manager Bud Harrelson said. “It’s frustrating, but not that frustrating. We’re making the best out of not hitting.”