NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Nixon Steals His Way Into Record Book

The one thing Otis Nixon wanted most Sunday he couldn’t steal. That was a victory against his former team, the Montreal Expos.

Nixon set a National League record with six stolen bases, but it wasn’t enough as the Expos defeated the Atlanta Braves, 7-6, at Montreal.

Nixon singled in the ninth inning and stole second and third, but was stranded as the Expos swept the three-game series. He tied the major league record for steals in a game set twice by Eddie Collins of the Philadelphia Athletics in September of 1912.

“We really wanted to get out of here with at least one win, and I’d give up the steals and the hits I got today for that in a minute,” Nixon said. “One day maybe I’ll sit back and enjoy this, but right now I’m kind of disappointed.”

The previous modern National League record of five steals in a game was accomplished five times, the last by Tony Gwynn of San Diego on Sept. 20, 1986. Before 1900, the start of the modern era, George Gore of Chicago and Billy Hamilton of Philadelphia each stole seven bases in the National League.

Nixon, acquired by the Braves from Montreal before the season, has 32 steals. Vince Coleman of the New York Mets and Montreal’s Marquis Grissom share the league lead with 33.

“He put on a clinic out there today,” said Grissom, who stole two bases. “It’s really something to watch him.”

Nixon said he wasn’t aware of the impending record, claiming that he was only taking advantage of the green light Manager Bobby Cox has given him.

“It’s not something you think about when you’re playing, especially since it’s my game to run whenever I can,” said Nixon, who had three singles and scored twice. “I didn’t even know about any records, but I figured something was up when Delino (DeShields) came up to me in the ninth and said Vince Coleman better not stay on the DL too long.”

Houston 5, New York 4--The Astros won a series in New York for the first time since May of 1984 as they handed Frank Viola his fourth defeat in his last six starts.

Houston has won four of seven games against the Mets over the last 10 days, including two of three over the weekend.

Viola (7-4) gave up five runs, four of them earned, and nine hits in seven innings.

Houston took a 5-3 lead with three runs in the seventh inning on five hits and a sacrifice fly. Casey Candaele singled and Eric Anthony and Carl Nichols beat out infield hits to load the bases.

Rafael Ramirez, batting for pitcher Mark Portugal, drove in one run with a ground out and Steve Finley followed with a sacrifice fly.

After Eric Yelding’s single, Jeff Bagwell hit a grounder that second baseman Gregg Jefferies misplayed, allowing pinch-runner Gerald Young to score.

Cincinnati 8, Philadelphia 6--Jeff Reed’s sacrifice fly with one out in the ninth inning broke a tie and the Reds completed a sweep of the three-game series at Philadelphia.

The Reds have won seven of their last eight games.

The loss was the Phillies’ seventh in their last eight games. Philadelphia Manager Jim Fregosi was ejected in the fifth inning and coach Hal Lanier in the ninth.

San Diego 4, Chicago 2--Jerald Clark is doing more than than merely filling in at first base for injured Fred McGriff.

Clark hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning at Jack Murphy Stadium to help the Padres beat the Cubs.

Clark, who hit a tiebreaking, two-run single in Saturday’s 6-2 victory, has driven in five runs in the last two games.

Greg Maddux, who hit his first major league homer in the third inning, yielded three runs and four hits in six innings. It was his second loss in 10 decisions against the Padres.

Pittsburgh 4, San Francisco 3--Bob Walk continued his success against teams in the West as he helped the East-leading Pirates end a three-game losing streak.

Mitch Webster’s run-scoring triple keyed a three-run sixth inning when the Pirates broke a 1-1 tie at Candlestick Park.

Walk (4-0), who won his fourth game in five starts, gave up three hits in five innings. He is 7-0 in 13 starts against the West since losing to Cincinnati on Sept. 2, 1989.

Top Thieves

The most stolen bases in a game.

Player Team Year 7 George Gore Chicago (NL) 1881 Billy Hamilton Phila. (NL) 1894 6 Eddie Collins* Phila. (AL) 1912 Otis Nixon Atlanta 1991 5 De. McGann N.Y. (NL) 1904 Davey Lopes Dodgers 1974 Lonnie Smith St. Louis 1982 Alan Wiggins San Diego 1984 Tony Gwynn San Diego 1986 R. Henderson Oakland 1989

* Stole six bases in a game twice in season.