NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Mets Feel No Pain as Viola Wins, 7-1

Slightly more than a month ago, the New York Mets were pondering the future without their best left-hander, Frank Viola.

But there apparently is nothing wrong with Viola now and the Mets are off to a fast start in the National League East.

Viola, given a four-run lead in the first inning, pitched a five-hitter Sunday in New York and the Mets beat Montreal, 7-1, to improve their record to 5-2, best in the East.

Convinced by doctors in late February that he didn’t need surgery to remove bone spurs on his elbow, Viola underwent treatment. He seems to have overcome the problem.

Viola threw 132 pitches, struck out three and walked only one. In his first start Tuesday, he went six innings, giving up only one run.

Hubie Brooks, who has become the clutch hitter for the Mets, drove in three runs, including the first two with a single.

The Mets are batting only .212, but they are walking to victory. They had seven walks in this game and have 55 this season. Two walks set up the four-run first.

Viola wasn’t the only good news for the Mets. Kevin Elster, playing for the first time since shoulder surgery Sept. 4, hit a home run, double and single.

“I’ve been ready for 15 days,” said Elster, who lost his shortstop job to Howard Johnson. Johnson, in a slump, was given Sunday off.

Atlanta 12, Cincinnati 1--No one has to sell the Cincinnati Reds on Tom Glavine.

The 25-year-old left-hander is in his fourth season with the Braves. His record is 33-41. But against the Reds, he is terrific.

Glavine gave up five hits and struck out six in six innings at Cincinnati to improve his record against the World Series winners to 9-2. He handed the Reds their first loss last season.

Glavine hadn’t pitched in 10 days, but the Reds bring out the best in him. “I had the rough first inning,” he said, “but after that I was fine.”

Rafael Belliard, who hadn’t had a hit this season, and Greg Olson each had three hits and the Braves pounded Tom Browning and three successors for 16 hits.

The Braves, who finished 26 games behind the Reds last season, moved ahead of them with their second victory in a row at Cincinnati.

St. Louis 11, Philadelphia 7--Cardinal Manager Joe Torre put Felix Jose in the No. 3 spot in his batting order because he expects big things from the former Oakland outfielder.

Jose paid some dividends at Philadelphia. He was three for three, including a two-run home run, drove in four runs and scored four runs.

A switch hitter, Jose walked and hit a bases-loaded double right-handed and hit a double and his first home run left-handed.

The top four in the Cardinal order had eight hits and scored nine runs to make it easy for Bryn Smith (2-0). Smith went seven innings, giving up six runs, four earned.

The Cardinals are 3-3 and Lee Smith, who got the last four outs, has saved all three victories.

Houston 7, San Francisco 2--Ken Caminiti hit a three-run home run at Houston and Jimmy Jones made a strong showing in his debut with the Astros.

Jones, who was invited to training camp and made the rotation with a strong showing, gave up five hits in 7 1/3 innings. He struck out six.

Chicago 6, Pittsburgh 4--The wildness of reliever Stan Belinda added to the Pirates’ woes at Chicago.

Belinda walked Chico Walker on a 3-and-2 pitch to load the bases in the eighth inning, then walked Doug Dascenzo on another 3-and-2 pitch to force in the go-ahead run. Another run scored on an infield out.

Bobby Bonilla hit his first home run of the season, but the Pirates, who were without injured Barry Bonds, dropped to .500.