NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Giants Make It Tough on Craig

It appears to be open season on major league managers. Three have been dismissed already.

Could one of the “untouchables” be next?

Roger Craig has been an exceptional leader of the San Francisco Giants for six years. This has been anything but a lucky seventh.

The Giants have the worst record in the majors. They have lost 21 of their past 27 games and appear to be completely disorganized. The pitching is bad, the hitting is weak.

In the process of getting the Reds out of their batting slump Wednesday night at Cincinnati, the Giants were hammered, 9-4. Their fifth loss in a row dropped the Giants to 12-27 and they are 9 1/2 games out of first place in the National League West.

Eric Davis, Chris Sabo and Paul O’Neill homered for the Reds, who piled up 15 hits. It was the most hits in a game this season for the Reds, who were batting .228.

The Giants were expected to battle the Reds for the title in the West. There have been injuries, but in other years the Giants were able to overcome them. This season, Craig can only shake his head.

“I know we’re going to turn this thing around,” he said. “It can’t keep going on like this. I know we’re better than a last-place club. I know Will Clark, Kevin Mitchell and Matt Williams will have 300 runs batted in. But I wish they would get going.”

The Reds are without injured second baseman Bill Doran and shortstop Barry Larkin, but they moved to within 1 1/2 games of first place.

Chicago 5, New York 2--New Manager Jim Essian said he took the Cubs’ job because he thinks they are a good team. After Greg Maddux pitched this five-hitter at New York in Essian’s debut, he was more convinced.

Luis Salazar and Hector Villanueva hit home runs for the Cubs. Ryne Sandberg, who had to leave Tuesday’s game because of a foot injury, returned and drove in two runs.

“I think all we need is a spark,” said Essian, 40. “We have too many outstanding players to stay down long.”

San Diego 7, Atlanta 2--Bruce Hurst pitched a six-hitter at Atlanta and Benito Santiago hit a home run as the Padres jumped on young Steve Avery.

Avery (5-2) had won three in a row, but the Padres pounded him for five runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Hurst (5-1) had a shutout until the ninth, when an error helped the Braves score twice.

The Padres prevented the Braves from moving back on top in the West.

St. Louis 5, Pittsburgh 3--Cy Young Award winner Doug Drabek, who lost only six games last season, lost his seventh this season.

A misplay by Gold Glove left fielder Barry Bonds led to two unearned runs for the Cardinals at Pittsburgh as Drabek fell to 2-7.

Pedro Guerrero drove in two runs and hot-hitting Ozzie Smith went three for five and raised his average to .313.

Cris Carpenter (5-1) won it in relief, and Lee Smith earned his 12th save.

Philadelphia 8, Montreal 1--Dale Murphy had three hits and drove in two runs at Montreal and the Phillies ended the Expos’ four-game winning streak.

John Kruk drove in three runs and made it easy for Pat Combs (2-2), who gave up nine hits and went the distance.