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NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Braves’ Leibrandt Strikes Out 13 and Wins, 3-2

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Charlie Leibrandt is the steady veteran on an Atlanta pitching staff featuring strong, young arms.

It was fitting that another strong performance by the 35-year-old left-hander helped propel the Braves into a tie for first place with the Dodgers in the National League West.

Leibrandt gave up only four hits and struck out a career-high 13 in eight innings Tuesday night at Atlanta in a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Expos. Leibrandt made two bad pitches. His first pitch of the game was hit for a home run by Delino DeShields and Ivan Calderon homered in the seventh.

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With the Dodgers losing, the Braves, who began their drive to the top at the All-Star break when they trailed by 9 1/2 games, caught them at 69-56.

In his last five starts, Leibrandt (13-11) has gone at least seven innings, and this was the first one in which he gave up more than one run. After losing, 1-0, to San Francisco on Aug. 7, he has pitched 37 innings, giving up 24 hits and only five runs. His control has been brilliant--five walks and 28 strikeouts.

The pennant race is something new to Tommy Glavine, 25; John Smoltz, 24; Steve Avery, 21, and Armando Reynoso, 22. It is old hat to Leibrandt, who has pitched in three championship series and the 1985 World Series for Kansas City.

“I wasn’t so sure when we started our move,” Leibrandt said. “But I’m a believer now. We think we can win it. We’re charging now. We’ll be tough.”

Pittsburgh 5, San Diego 2--Zane Smith, who played a prominent role in the Pirates’ pennant drive after coming over from Montreal in early August last season, plans on doing more of the same.

The veteran left-hander was 6-2 a year ago and is 12-9 now. When Smith’s sinker is working, the batters hit nearly all of his pitches on the ground. Against the Padres at Pittsburgh, he had 19 ground balls in 8 2/3 innings.

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Andy Van Slyke hit his 15th home run for the Pirates and Bobby Bonds had two runs batted in.

“He’s tough,” said the league’s leading hitter, Tony Gwynn. “He’s got that sinker and it starts thigh-high. But when you hack at it, it’s at your knees.”

St. Louis 5, San Francisco 4--If Lee Smith’s arm holds out, the Cardinals should continue to make it interesting for the Pirates in the East.

After spotting the Giants a 3-0 lead in the first inning at St. Louis, the Cardinals scored their 33rd come-from-behind victory of the season.

Smith, despite loading the bases with one out in the ninth, escaped for his 35th save. He also has six victories.

Ozzie Smith opened the eighth in a 4-4 tie with a single and scored the winning run on Felix Jose’s fly ball to right. Earlier, Jose got a hit after 26 at-bats without one.

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Cincinnati 4, Philadelphia 2--Eric Davis, starting for the first time in a month, doubled and scored the first run at Cincinnati, helping the Reds pull within seven games of the faltering Dodgers.

Mario Duncan led the Reds’ attack, getting three hits and driving in three runs. Since coming off the disabled list last Friday, Duncan is eight for 13.

Scott Scudder gave up only three hits in seven innings and the Reds won for the fourth time in five games.

Cincinnati reliever Ted Power was hit in the hand by a line drive in the eighth and had to leave the game. Rob Dibble got his 26th save.

Houston 8, New York 3--Ken Caminiti hit his career high 12th home run and drove in three runs in the romp at Houston.

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