NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : It Takes Time, but Reds Finally Get Offensive

Cincinnati Manager Lou Piniella wasn’t too perturbed about the defending World Series champion Reds playing .500 ball after the first month of the season.

What bothered him was the club’s lack of hitting. The Reds, who led the league last season with a .265 average, went into Saturday’s game against the Cubs in Chicago with a .221 average, worst in the majors.

With the wind blowing out at Wrigley Field, the Reds came out of their slump with a bang. Paul O’Neill and Eric Davis each hit two home runs and Billy Hatcher hit his first to help the Reds rout the Cubs, 12-2.

O’Neill, who hits well against the Cubs, drove in five runs to make it easy for Jose Rijo to improve to 2-2.

O’Neill, who was four for five to raise his average from .177 to .214, has hit five of his six home runs against the Cubs.

“I’ve been struggling as much as I have in my entire career just trying to get hits,” O’Neill said. “I guess everyone has a day like this and I’m glad I had it now. I don’t know how to explain it.”

O’Neill gave thanks to former Red catcher Johnny Bench, who was broadcasting the game on radio.

“He told me I was dropping my hands too much,” O’Neill said. “I took his advice and it worked today.”

Rijo, who drove in three runs, pitched eight innings, giving up eight hits, but only one of the two runs off him was earned.

Atlanta 3, Pittsburgh 2--Doug Drabek only lost six games last season while leading the Pirates to the Eastern Division title and winning the Cy Young Award.

When Ron Gant hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning at Pittsburgh, Drabek lost his sixth game this season. Last year he won 22. This year he has won one.

In pitching his first complete game, Drabek gave up five hits and lowered his earned-run average to 3.86. But his only victory was April 24 at Montreal. Last season he was 11-0 against the West. This season, he is 0-3.

“I finally felt smooth,” Drabek said. “I’ll try to stay positive. The main thing is still winning, whether you throw good or bad.”

The Braves (14-12) remained in first place in the West. A year ago, they were 8-18 and already 12 games out of first place.

Despite Drabek’s poor start, the Pirates lead the East by 2 1/2 games.

New York 6, San Francisco 2--Tommy Herr, playing only because other infielders are injured, came out of his slump at San Francisco.

He had four hits, including a home run, and drove in three runs to help Ron Darling (2-2) get the victory. In seven innings, Darling gave up five hits, including home runs by Will Clark and Robby Thompson.

Montreal 5, San Diego 1--Marquis Grissom hit a three-run home run at San Diego to help Dennis Martinez become a five-game winner and the Expos extend their winning streak to five games.

Fred McGriff spoiled the shutout bid in the seventh inning when he hit his eighth home run.

Houston 6, St. Louis 1--Mark Portugal (4-1) held the Cardinals to three hits in seven innings and Craig Biggio hit a three-run double to lead the Astros at Houston.