NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Braves Can’t Be Cooled Off, Trail by Three

While the Dodgers and defending champion Cincinnati Reds are stumbling, the young Atlanta Braves are on the move.

A dispirited team at the All-Star break, the Braves have renewed confidence because of the slumps of the two clubs favored to battle for the top spot in the National League West.

The Braves, behind the steady pitching of Steve Avery and another Ron Gant home run, beat the Cardinals, 5-1, Sunday at St. Louis to move within three games of the Dodgers.

Avery gave up only two hits before wilting in the 100-degree heat and needing help from Juan Berenguer for the last four outs. Avery, 21, improved to 10-5. He is the youngest Atlanta pitcher to win 10 games.

The Cardinals bring out the power in Gant. He hit two-run homer in the first inning after Deion Sanders hit a solo shot and that was all Avery needed. Gant, who has 19 home runs, has hit six against the Cardinals in 45 at-bats.

Avery said he was worried about his older colleagues in the heat and high humidity.

“I was trying to make sure my teammates didn’t have to stay out there too long,” Avery said. “But it’s hard to concentrate when you stay out there too long. I had good breaking stuff and the Cardinals were swinging away.

“It gets hot in Atlanta, but we don’t have this artificial turf, which makes it even hotter. I wrapped myself in a wet towel and just tried to catch my breath between innings.”

The Braves, who won their season series from the Cardinals, 9-3, have picked up 6 1/2 games on the Dodgers since the All-Star break. They have made an impression on Cardinal Manager Joe Torre, too.

“I’m just glad we’re done with them,” Torre said. “Let them beat on somebody else.”

The Braves are still without their two best left-handed hitters, Dave Justice and Sid Bream. Bream, who had knee surgery May 26, is due back this week, but Justice still has a back problem and the Braves don’t know when he will be ready.

Pittsburgh 6, Cincinnati 0--Left-hander Randy Tomlin pitched a three-hitter at Pittsburgh for his second consecutive shutout as the Reds suffered their 11th loss in 12 games.

Gary Redus had three hits, including a double and a triple, scored two runs and drove in another to lead the Pirates to their ninth victory in 11 games.

Tomlin (5-3) shut out Houston last week on five hits.

Andy Van Slyke singled in two runs in the sixth to break the game open.

The Pirates remain four games in front in the East, while the Reds trail the Dodgers by 5 1/2 in the West.

Chicago 4, Houston 2--In most places in the East, it was just too hot and humid for pitchers to go the distance.

But in the cool of Houston’s Astrodome, the Cubs had pitchers pitch back-to-back complete games for the first time in more than two years.

Greg Maddux pitched a shutout Saturday night and rookie Frank Castillo came back Sunday for his third victory without a loss.

San Diego 5, Philadelphia 2--It was also pleasant weather for pitching in San Diego and Bruce Hurst responded with a five-hitter to halt the Phillies’ five-game winning streak.

Hurst (11-5) gave up a two-run home run to Dave Hollins in the fourth inning, then stopped the Phillies the rest of the way.

Terry Mulholland made the lead stand up until the seventh, when Tim Teufel and Scott Coolbaugh hit consecutive doubles to drive in three runs and put the Padres ahead.

Fred McGriff hit his 18th home run in the eighth.

Tony Gwynn, whose lead in the batting race has dwindled to a point (.339-.338) over the Braves’ Terry Pendleton, had a triple in four at-bats.

San Francisco 3, Montreal 2--Trevor Wilson (5-9) gave up four hits in six innings at Montreal and ended his personal three-game losing streak.

Jeff Brantley gave up a run in the ninth, but earned his eighth save.