NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Finally Pitching In, Smoltz Ends Braves’ Slump

Last season when the Atlanta Braves had the worst record in the National League, they went with young pitchers who had mostly losing records.

The exception was John Smoltz. The 6-3 right-hander was 14-11 for a team that won only 66 games.

The Braves figured that Smoltz, then 23, would be the key man on a pitching staff that would lead the club back to prominence.

For half the season the Braves were doomed to disappointment. While Tom Glavine and Steve Avery showed the expected improvement, Smoltz did not.

At the All-Star break, Smoltz was 2-11 and the Braves, instead of challenging the Dodgers for first place in the West, trailed by 9 1/2 games.

But Smoltz straightened out, and so did the Braves.

Smoltz gave up six hits in 6 2/3 innings Tuesday night at Montreal and the Braves, although getting only four hits, beat the Expos, 4-1. The victory leaves the Braves tied with the Dodgers in first place in the National League West.

Smoltz, who has won nine of his last 11 decisions, improved his record to 11-13.

Alejandro Pena, recently obtained from the New York Mets, pitched two scoreless innings of relief and earned the save in his debut with the Braves.

Timely hitting by David Justice and wildness of Montreal starter Brian Barnes enabled the Braves to end their three-game losing streak.

Justice had half the Braves’ hits and used them to drive in three of the runs.

The battle with the Dodgers for the division lead has put the Braves on edge.

Steady third baseman Terry Pendleton had to be the peacemaker in the fifth inning to settle an argument between Smoltz and catcher Greg Olson over what pitch to call.

“We just had a minor disagreement on a pitch,” Smoltz said. “It really wasn’t anything.”

Justice denied the Braves are feeling pressure because of the stretch drive.

“We didn’t have the intensity we should have the previous two nights,” Justice said. “But it’s not because we’ve entered September.

“Even though we’re tied for first place, I don’t consider it a pennant race. It’s not a race until the last week of September.”

Pittsburgh 5, San Francisco 3--Steve Buechele’s two-out single in the 10th inning drove in two runs as the Pirates, after tying the score in the ninth on Tom Prince’s home run, won at San Francisco.

The Pirates improved their lead in the NL East to eight games over St. Louis.

Pinch-hitter Orlando Merced singled to lead off the 10th, and Jay Bell sacrificed. Andy Van Slyke singled and, after Bobby Bonilla struck out, Barry Bonds was walked intentionally to load the bases.

Buechele, who joined Pittsburgh in a trade Saturday with the Texas Rangers, then got his first two RBIs as a Pirate.

Scott Patterson (3-1) pitched the final 1 2/3 innings for the victory.

New York 6, Houston 1--The Mets, in an attempt to find a place to put Howard Johnson so he can’t hurt them on defense, shifted him to right field.

Johnson, who leads the league in home runs with 29, also has 29 errors this season playing shortstop and third base.

Johnson doubled, singled and drove in two runs at New York to Anthony Young (1-1) earn his first victory.

Johnson played 14 games in the outfield early in his career.

Cincinnati 8, Philadelphia 5--Jose Rijo didn’t really pitch that well at Philadelphia, but he helped put an end to the Reds’ four-game losing streak.

Rijo (12-4) gave up nine hits in seven innings. Rob Dibble pitched two scoreless innings to pick up his 28th save.

“I didn’t have my best stuff,” Rijo said. “I kept expecting my elbow to hurt. It didn’t, but it felt stiff.”

Chris Sabo hit a two-run homer and Barry Larkin had a run-scoring double in the third to extend his hitting streak to 17 games.

Despite the victory, the Reds are two games below .500 and their hopes of repeating in the West are fading. They are eight games out of first place with 30 games left.

San Diego 4, Chicago 1--Andy Benes pitched a seven-hitter at San Diego and won his seventh decision in a row.

Benito Santiago singled in the go-ahead run in a three-run seventh-inning rally that enabled Benes to improve his record to 11-10.

Tony Gwynn, who missed three games because of a knee injury, returned to the lineup. He had two hits and raised his league-leading average to .325.