NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Braves Might Be Feeling the Pressure After Third Loss in a Row

Some might think the Atlanta Braves are starting to show signs of being in a pennant race.

The Braves lost for the third time in a row as Andres Galarraga hit a two-run homer and Bill Sampen pitched six strong innings at Montreal to lead the Expos to a 4-3 victory Monday.

“We’ve been through streaks like this before and we’ve come out of them,” third baseman Terry Pendleton said. “I don’t think it’s a question of us getting into September and starting to tighten up. The important thing is to stay loose and have fun and that’s what we’re doing.”

Sampen (7-4), pitching because Dennis Martinez has a lower back strain, gave up four hits in only his fifth start of the year and his first since April 28. Mel Rojas pitched two innings and Barry Jones struggled to get the last three outs.

The Braves rallied in the ninth against Jones as Otis Nixon hit a two-run triple and Jeff Treadway singled him home. But Pendleton hit into a double play to end the game.

Tom Glavine (17-9), gave up five hits and struck out 10 for his ninth complete game. He had a no-hitter going until Marquis Grissom singled with two out in the fifth and Galarraga followed with his sixth homer.

“It’s not as good as I could pitch, but we didn’t capitalize on our chances and they did,” Glavine said. “We have to turn this around quickly because there aren’t all that many games left. Losing three isn’t that big a deal now, but we’ve got to come back tomorrow and get a win.”

Philadelphia 8, Cincinnati 5--Dale Murphy had four hits, including a two-run homer at Philadelphia as the Phillies beat the Reds for their third victory in a row.

Terry Mulholland (13-11) was the winner despite giving up five runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. Joe Boever pitched 2 1/3 innings and Mitch Williams finished for his 25th save.

Philadelphia scored two runs in the second off Tom Browning (13-9) when Ricky Jordan singled and Murphy followed with his 17th homer. It was the 28th home run that Browning has given up this year, tops in the majors.

In the fourth inning, consecutive singles by Jordan, Murphy and Charlie Hayes produced one run and Darren Daulton followed with a run-scoring double. One out later, Randy Ready singled in two runs to chase Browning. Dickie Thon hit Kip Gross’ first pitch for his eighth home run to cap the six-run inning.

Cincinnati came back with five runs in the sixth to chase Mulholland on Chris Sabo’s two-run single and Joe Oliver’s three-run double.

The Reds, who lost their fourth straight, had defeated the Phillies seven straight times before the loss.

Pittsburgh 9, San Francisco 8--Lloyd McClendon’s run-scoring pinch-single with two out in the ninth inning at San Francisco capped an 18-hit attack in the victory over the Giants.

After Jay Bell doubled off Dave Righetti (2-6) with one out, McClendon hit a soft fly ball to shallow left field that Kevin Mitchell dove for, but could not catch, and Bell scored easily.

Bell, Andy Van Slyke and Orlando Merced each had three hits and an RBI, and Barry Bonds had two hits and an RBI for the first-place Pirates, who won for the sixth time in seven games despite blowing leads of 6-2, 7-6 and 8-7.

Stan Belinda (4-4) pitched two innings to earn the victory. Rosario Rodriguez got the final out for his second save.

Will Clark had four hits, including a double, and an RBI for the Giants, who lost their seventh in nine games. Matt Williams hit his 27th home run, a solo homer in the second, and Mitchell hit his 26th--a two-run shot in the sixth--before tying it with a run-scoring single in the seventh.

Houston 3, New York 0--Rookies Ryan Bowen, Rob Mallicoat and Al Osuna combined on a six-hitter at New York as the Astros snapped their three-game losing streak.

Bowen (4-2) allowed five singles and four walks in 6 1/3 innings before Mallicoat came on to stop a rally in the seventh. Osuna got his 10th save with two innings of one-hit relief as the Astros snapped the Mets’ three-game winning streak.

Houston took a 1-0 lead against Frank Viola (12-13) in the second on third baseman Howard Johnson’s throwing error.

Andujar Cedeno led off the inning with a double and after Viola struck out Andy Mota and Bowen, Steve Finley grounded to third, but Johnson’s throw was wild and Cedeno scored. Johnson, who leads the NL with 29 homers, also has 29 errors.

Mike Simms walked to open the third, moved to third on Casey Candaele’s single and scored on Cedeno’s single.

Viola, who allowed 10 hits, walked two and struck out five in eight innings, has lost eight of his last nine decisions and five in a row. Houston added a run in the ninth against reliever Tony Castillo on Ken Caminiti’s single, giving Caminiti a career-high 73 RBIs.

Chicago 10, San Diego 8--Ryne Sandberg hit the second grand slam of his career to cap a six-run eighth inning as the Cubs rallied to beat the Padres at San Diego.

Shawon Dunston walked and Rick Wilkins singled, putting runners at first and third to open the eighth off reliever Jose Melendez (6-5). Chico Walker hit a bouncer to the mound, and while Melendez had his back turned to the plate, Dunston raced home to tie the score, 5-5, as Walker reached with an infield single.

After Rich Rodriguez relieved Melendez, Doug Dascenzo singled to score Wilkins with the go-ahead run. Rodriguez then threw a wild pitch, moving runners to second and third, and intentionally walked Mark Grace to load the bases.

Sandberg greeted reliever Jim Lewis with a drive off the left-field foul pole to cap the comeback with his 22nd homer. It was the first grand slam for Sandberg since May 31, 1983, against Houston.

Winner Chuck McElroy (6-2) pitched 1 1/3 innings before leaving in the eighth with a left biceps strain. Paul Assenmacher relieved and gave up a two-run homer to Darrin Jackson, his 15th, and an run-scoring double to Benito Santiago.