NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Pittsburgh Is Too Hot for Reds

The Pittsburgh Pirates have turned the Killer B’s loose on the Cincinnati Reds the last two weekends, and the result has been a killer of a losing streak for the Reds.

Bobby Bonilla and Barry Bonds helped the Pirates extend the Reds’ slide to 10 games with a 7-2 victory Friday night at Pittsburgh.

Bonilla had two home runs and a run-scoring triple. His triple came in the first inning and was followed by a two-run homer by Bonds.

Bonilla hit a solo homer in the fifth inning and a two-run shot in the seventh for the eighth two-homer game of his career.

Five of the 10 Cincinnati losses have been to Pittsburgh, which has nine consecutive victories over the Reds, the Pirates’ longest winning streak over the Reds since they won 17 in a row in 1937.

“It’s frustrating,” Cincinnati Manager Lou Piniella said. “They’re probably all pressing at this point. It’s a humbling game, isn’t it?”

Cincinnati hasn’t won since the All-Star break--the Reds’ last victory was July 5 in Houston--and the losing streak is their longest since two 10-game streaks in 1989.

John Smiley (11-6), beating Cincinnati for the second time in six days, had not permitted a runner past second base until being chased by Billy Hatcher’s two-run home run in the seventh inning. Smiley, 5-0 lifetime against the Reds, gave up five hits, struck out five and walked three over 7 2/3 innings before Stan Belinda finished.

With the Reds’ pitching staff depleted by injuries and Rob Dibble’s three-game suspension, Browning (10-7) worked 6 1/3 innings, allowing 13 hits and seven runs before being replaced by Tim Layana after Bonilla’s second homer.

Braves 8, Cardinals 3--Charlie Leibrandt beat the Cardinals for the second time in six days, and Lonnie Smith drove in two runs and scored twice as the Braves won at St. Louis.

The Braves, winning for the seventh time in eight games, pulled within three games of the Dodgers.

Leibrandt (9-7) pitched 5 2/3 innings and gave up three runs on six hits, getting chased after Geronimo Pena’s two-out RBI triple in the sixth.

Montreal 6, San Francisco 0--Oil Can Boyd pitched a five-hitter for his first complete game of the season as the Expos won at Montreal.

Boyd (6-8) retired the first 14 batters en route to his first shutout since Sept. 1 against the Dodgers. He struck out eight and walked one.

“I wanted to go out there and show everybody that I’m healthy and I can pitch, and I did that,” said Boyd, who becomes a free agent after the season. “I want to prove that I want to play here and be here, and if they don’t keep me, they’re making a mistake.”

Houston 5, Chicago 2--Ken Caminiti hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning to give the Astros a victory at Houston.

Pete Harnisch (6-7) pitched eight innings, giving up two runs and five hits and striking out eight for the victory.

Bob Scanlan (3-5) walked Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell to lead off the eighth before Chuck McElroy relieved. One out later, Caminiti homered.

Philadelphia 4, San Diego 1--Dave Hollins hit his first career grand slam as the Phillies won at San Diego.

Hollins, recalled July 11, hit a 2-and-0 pitch over the center-field wall with two outs in the sixth inning after starter Dennis Rasmussen (3-6) walked two batters in a row to load the bases. Hollins has three homers and nine RBIs since rejoining the Phillies.

Jose DeJesus (6-4) limited the Padres to a lead-off homer by Jerald Clark in the second inning in giving up four hits in 8 1/3 innings.