NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Johnson’s Homer Powers Mets Past Astros

Howard Johnson hit the ball hard to center field in the Astrodome, where fly balls usually die and turn into long outs.

This time, however, Johnson’s shot off rookie Mike Capel in the 11th inning cleared the wall and the New York Mets beat the Houston Astros, 4-3, Saturday night at Houston.

“Anything that’s hit to center field here has to be a pretty good poke,” Johnson said. “I knew I hit it real well, but I wasn’t sure. You hit the ball here and in St. Louis in the gaps and you can come away with nothing.”

Johnson and Cincinnati’s Paul O’Neill each have 12 home runs, one behind National League leader Fred McGriff of San Diego.

Alejandro Pena (2-0) pitched two innings for the victory and John Franco got the last three outs for his 12th save. The Astros loaded the bases on three singles in the bottom of the 11th, but Franco got pinch-hitter Rafael Ramirez to pop out to second to end the game.

“My back still feels bad, but it would have been a lot better if I’d had an easy inning instead of a tough one like that,” said Franco, who has back spasms.

The Mets rallied in the ninth for the second consecutive game against the Astros, this time tying the score, 3-3, with a run. New York scored six runs in its 6-3 victory Friday.

“We had a chance to win, but the ninth inning bug-a-boos got to us again,” Astro Manager Art Howe said.

Hubie Brooks led off the ninth with a single off Jim Corsi and pinch-runner Garry Templeton scored on Daryl Boston’s long pinch single to center.

Ken Camimiti’s two-run homer in the sixth put the Astros ahead, 3-2. Caminiti’s fifth homer of the season was his second in as many games, and came off rookie reliever Rich Sauveur.

The Mets took a 2-0 lead in the first inning off rookie Darryl Kile. Vince Coleman opened with a double and went to third on Gregg Jefferies’ fly out to center. Kevin McReynolds’ two-out double drove in Coleman and Brooks added a run-scoring single.

Casey Candaele drove in Houston’s first run with a two-out single in the fourth inning.

Met starter Wally Whitehurst pitched five innings and gave up one run on five hits.

San Diego 11, Pittsburgh 0--The Padres got 18 hits and turned the tables on the Pirates at Pittsburgh, avenging Friday night’s loss when they scored no runs despite getting 13 hits.

Benito Santiago had three hits and three RBIs, Tim Teufel hit a two-run homer, Tony Gwynn had three hits to extend a 13-game hitting streak and Tony Fernandez had three hits and two RBIs in the most one-sided game of the season for both teams.

Mike Maddux (3-1), who talked his way into a spring training tryout, allowed two hits in six innings and did not allow a runner past first base after learning only minutes before game time he would make his first start of the season. He struck out one and walked none.

John Costello pitched 2 1/3 innings and Rich Rodriguez finished the combined four-hitter.

The Padres, winning for the seventh time in nine games, didn’t need long to get to Randy Tomlin (3-2), who lasted only one-plus inning in the shortest start by a Pirate starter this season.

Atlanta 7, Montreal 6--David Justice hit a two-run triple in a three-run seventh inning as the Braves held on to beat the Expos.

Montreal second baseman Delino DeShield’s wild throw allowed Otis Nixon to score the first run in the inning and break a 4-4 tie.

Nixon singled off reliever Tim Burke (3-3) with one out and stole his second base of the game and 26th on the season. Terry Pendleton then bounced to DeShields, who threw wildly to first, allowing Nixon to score.

Lonnie Smith singled before Jeff Fassaro relieved and Justice tripled to right.

The Expos moved within 7-6 in the ninth on Tim Wallach’s run-scoring single. Mike Stanton (2-0) got the victory and Kent Mercker pitched two innings for his fourth save.

Montreal loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth, but Mike Fitzgerald grounded to third to end the game.

Rookie Brian Hunter hit his second home run for the Braves.

Philadelphia 4, Cincinnati 1--Jim Lindeman and Von Hayes each drove in two runs, and Jose DeJesus survived early control problems at Cincinnati for the victory.

DeJesus (2-2) walked five in the first three innings, but twice the Phillies bailed him out with double plays. DeJesus gave up five hits in seven innings, walked six and struck out four. Roger McDowell finished for his third save.

Chris Hammond (3-5) lost his fifth consecutive decision, giving up eight hits and four runs in six innings.

St. Louis 3, San Francisco 2--Third baseman Mike Felder’s throwing error allowed Geronimo Pena to score the winning run from second base in the 10th inning at St. Louis.

Pena led off the 10th with a single off Francisco Oliveras (1-2) and stole second. Bernard Gilkey bunted, but Felder made a wild throw to third trying to get Pena.

Cris Carpenter (7-1) pitched a scoreless inning for the victory.

The Cardinals made three baserunning errors in the fourth, but scored two runs.