NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Cardinals’ Rally Aided by a Broken Play

You can’t say the Cardinals didn’t get a break Saturday night.

Milt Thompson’s broken-bat RBI single in the 10th inning at St. Louis gave the Cardinals a come-from-behind 6-5 victory, snapping their four-game losing streak and the New York Mets’ four-game winning streak.

Thompson broke his bat while hitting a chopper to first base off reliever John Franco with Gerald Perry on third base. First baseman Dave Magadan had to duck the flying end of Thompson’s broken bat and was unable to field the ball, capping the Cardinals’ comeback from a 5-0 deficit.

Magadan said he had to choose between fielding the ball or ducking the bat. “I really got caught in-between,” he said. “I didn’t know what to do, get the ball or save my life. The bat and ball both got there at the same time. It’s a heck of a way to lose the game.”

Reliever Juan Agosto (3-1) escaped a jam in the top of the 10th for the victory.

Pirates 5, Phillies 3--It was not a typical game for John Smiley, but it was a typical result.

The Pittsburgh pitcher had to leave the game at Philadelphia after five innings because of a groin pull, but he watched as four relievers went to the mound and preserved his eighth victory, increasing the Pirates’ winning streak to eight games.

Smiley (8-1) joined the Atlanta Braves’ Tom Glavine and the Dodgers’ Ramon Martinez, both 8-2, in the National League and the Angels’ Chuck Finley, also 8-2, in the American League as the majors’ eight-game winners.

“I just stretched it a little, but I iced it after the game and didn’t feel a thing,” Smiley said of his injury. “I’m sure I’ll be OK for my next start.”

The winning streak is the Pirates’ longest since they won nine in a row from July 5-17, 1988. Pittsburgh also has beaten Philadelphia 11 consecutive times, five this season.

San Francisco 8, Atlanta 2--Kevin Mitchell drove in three runs with two hits in his second game back from a knee injury to lead the Giants past the Braves at San Francisco.

The victory ended the Braves’ five-game winning streak.

Will Clark hit a two-run home run, tying him with Atlanta’s David Justice for the National League RBI lead at 38.

Chicago 2, Montreal 1--Mark Grace’s sacrifice fly scored Shawon Dunston in the 10th inning and lifted the Cubs to victory at Montreal.

Chuck McElroy (2-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the victory. Dave Smith pitched the 10th for his 12th save.

San Diego 7, Houston 2--Tim Teufel, who entered the game with a .118 average and two RBIs, hit a three-run home run in his first at-bat for the Padres and Fred McGriff added a three-run homer in a victory at San Diego.

The Padres staked Bruce Hurst (6-2) to a 7-0 lead after three innings and the San Diego left-hander pitched a seven-hitter.

McGriff’s third-inning homer over the center-field fence was his 12th, tops in the NL.