BASEBALL ROUNDUP : Surging Braves Move Within 2 1/2 of Dodgers

It’s hard to believe the Atlanta Braves are the same team that trailed the Dodgers by 9 1/2 games at the All-Star break only two weeks ago. One reason Atlanta is challenging is that John Smoltz isn’t the same pitcher he was for half a season.

Greg Olson’s two-run double and two Pittsburgh errors helped the Braves score seven runs in the fourth inning, stopping the Pirate pitching staff’s 20-inning scoreless streak and giving the Braves and Smoltz a 7-3 victory at Pittsburgh Monday night.

The Braves’ ninth victory in 11 games--and their fifth in six games against NL East-leading Pittsburgh--moved Atlanta to within 2 1/2 games of the Dodgers.

Smoltz (5-11), who lost nine of his first 11 decisions, gave up Andy Van Slyke’s solo home run in the sixth inning, Van Slyke’s RBI grounder in the first and Mike LaValliere’s run-scoring single in the second. He gave up six hits, walked two and struck out two in seven innings before Mike Stanton finished up.

“He was on the All-Star team in ‘89, he won 14 games last year and maybe people expected too much from him,” Brave Manager Bobby Cox said. “He was like Doug Drabek--there were high expectations and some people thought he should never lose. The last three times out, he’s been pretty good.”

Pittsburgh, which shut out Cincinnati in the final 17 innings of their weekend series, lost for the third time in 12 games.

What’s remarkable about the Braves’ second-half surge is they have done it without All-Star outfielder David Justice, who is sidelined with a bad back, and first baseman Sid Bream, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery.

Jeff Blauser, Ron Gant, Otis Nixon and Smoltz also had run-scoring hits in the fourth inning off Zane Smith (10-7), who has a 9.82 earned-run average in two starts against his former teammates this season. Smith gave up six hits and all seven runs, three of them earned, in the fourth after checking Atlanta on one hit over three innings.

St. Louis 9, Houston 1--Jose DeLeon pitched his first complete game in almost two seasons, and Felix Jose and Milt Thompson each drove in three runs at St. Louis to lead the Cardinals.

Ryan Bowen, making his major league debut, held the Cardinals hitless for five innings, but still trailed, 2-1. Milt Thompson led off the sixth with an infield single, keying a seven-run burst that he capped with a three-run triple off Mike Capel.

DeLeon (4-8) disposed of several slumps, giving up seven hits, striking out two and walking three. He pitched his first complete game since beating Atlanta on Aug. 15, 1989, and won in July for the first time since July 31, 1989.

Bowen (0-1) gave up six runs, five earned, in five-plus innings, and the Astros lost for the eighth time in 10 games.

Texas 2, Boston 1--Jose Guzman outpitched Roger Clemens at Texas and the Rangers sent the Red Sox to their fifth loss in a row.

Steve Buechele homered and scored both Texas runs. It was the third consecutive victory for the Rangers.

Guzman (5-4) scattered five hits in 7 2/3 innings. He walked four and struck out eight in the first victory by a Texas starter in eight games.

Kenny Rogers relieved with two on and two out in the eighth inning and retired Mike Greenwell on a grounder. Jeff Russell pitched a perfect ninth for his 20th save.

Clemens (11-7) has won only two of his last seven starts. He lost with a seven-hitter, striking out four and walking four.

Chicago 5, Milwaukee 4--Dan Pasqua hit a solo home run and Ozzie Guillen had an RBI single in the sixth inning at Chicago as the White Sox rallied to win for the 15th time in their last 18 home games against the Brewers.

Greg Hibbard (7-8) gave up all four runs in six-plus innings. Melido Perez and Scott Radinsky combined for two scoreless innings and Bobby Thigpen pitched the ninth for his 20th save.

Bill Wegman (6-4) gave up nine hits in eight innings and saw his four-game winning streak snapped.