NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Charlton Shows the Power of Rehabilitation

Maybe the Cincinnati Reds knew what was best for Norm Charlton.

Charlton returned from the disabled list and gave up one run and five hits in six innings as the Reds defeated the Montreal Expos, 6-1, Tuesday night.

“I didn’t want to go on the DL,” Charlton said, “but I realize now the club had my best interests and theirs in mind.”

Charlton (3-5), disabled May 26 with tendinitis in his left shoulder, struck out four in winning for the first time since May 14. Ted Power and Kip Gross finished for the Reds.

“I figured at first all I’d need to do was miss one start and I could come back,” Charlton said. “But it turned out to be good. It gave me a chance to work things out on the sideline and to do some running, and I came back stronger.”

Chris Sabo paced the Reds’ attack with two runs batted in and two doubles.

The Expos took the lead in the second inning on doubles by Kenny Williams and Larry Walker.

Cincinnati scored two runs in the fourth inning off Chris Nabholz (2-4) with some help from the Expos.

Billy Hatcher was on third base and Sabo on second when Glenn Braggs singled in the infield. Second baseman Junior Noboa threw the ball away, allowing Hatcher and Sabo to score.

The Reds added four runs in the fifth inning, sparked by Charlton’s leadoff double.

Houston 1, Philadelphia 0--Pinch-hitter Ken Oberkfell drew a bases-loaded walk from Roger McDowell with one out in 11th inning to give the Astros the victory at home.

McDowell (3-2) struck out Craig Biggio to start the 11th, but Ken Caminiti and Jeff Bagwell followed with singles and Steve Finley was intentionally walked. McDowell then walked Oberkfell on four pitches to force in the game-winning run.

New York 2, Atlanta 1--Frank Viola gave up one run in 8 1/3 innings and Kevin McReynolds hit a two-run homer as the Mets beat the Braves.

Viola was two outs away from his fourth complete game of the season when play was delayed 57 minutes by rain at New York. John Franco relieved when the game resumed and got the last two outs on four pitches for his 13th save.

Viola (7-3) had a perfect game through 5 1/3 innings when Rafael Belliard struck out. But Belliard reached first base when catcher Rick Cerone could not handle the third strike in the dirt.

San Francisco 8, Chicago 6--The Cubs had a pickoff play on in the 10th inning of the 11-inning game at Chicago, but pitcher Dave Smith missed the sign and threw home when catcher Rick Wilkins was not expecting the pitch. Wilkins missed the ball and Jose Uribe raced home with the tiebreaking run.

A pinch-single by Mike Kingery scored Mike Felder with another run to seal the Cubs’ third consecutive defeat during their 2-6 home stand.

St. Louis 10, San Diego 4--Milt Thompson hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs for the Cardinals at San Diego.

The Cardinals homered twice in one inning for the first time this year on Thompson’s second homer of the season and Gerald Perry’s solo shot in the sixth, giving St. Louis a 4-0 lead.

Fred McGriff got the Padres close for a while when he hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth. McGriff leads the National League with 14 homers.