NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : No Relief for Braves in Montreal, 8-4

The Montreal Expos are the worst team in the NL East, winning only 15 of 63 games against teams in their division.

The Expos must be wishing they were in the West, having a 40-28 record against those teams.

Spike Owen had four of the Expos’ 14 hits Wednesday night in an 8-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves at Montreal. It was the Braves’ fifth loss in six games.

Atlanta fell out of first place, one game behind the Dodgers in the West.

The Braves and Dodgers are fighting for the first in the West, but the Expos aren’t impressed. Montreal finished 7-5 against both West leaders.

Atlanta’s bullpen collapsed in this one. Five relievers, including rookie Mark Wohlers, pitched three innings, giving up nine hits and five runs.

It was tied, 4-4, in the seventh when Owen and Ivan Calderon singled off Jim Clancy (1-4) and Tim Wallach walked to load the bases with none out. Mike Stanton relieved and with one out Marquis Grissom delivered a two-run single to give the Expos the lead for good.

Leadoff hitter Otis Nixon, who scored two of the Braves’ runs, said the slump was nothing to worry about.

“Right now the hits aren’t falling for us,” he said, “but we have to put things in perspective. We have the best record since the All-Star break.

“Also, we know we’re the best hitting team in the league, so we’re not putting extra pressure on ourselves.”

Pittsburgh 8, San Francisco 3--When third baseman Steve Buechele joined the Pirates last week, the switch in leagues late in the season caused some anxiety. Buechele didn’t know what to expect in the National League.

When he realized he was going to face a familiar pitcher at San Francisco, the anxiety was gone.

Buechele singled in a run in the first inning, then hit a two-run homer run in the fourth against left-hander Bud Black (10-14) to spark the Pirates to victory.

“I didn’t feel totally alienated out there against Black because he’s from the American League,” Buechele said. “I’ve faced him many times.”

Andy Van Slyke also homered to help John Smiley breeze to his 17th victory. Smiley, winning his fourth in a row, gave up seven hits and two runs in 6 2/3 innings.

Cincinnati 5, Philadelphia 1--Randy Myers, unhappy when Rob Dibble beat him out as ace of the Reds’ bullpen, may have clinched a role as a starter.

In the most impressive of his eight starts since coming out of the bullpen, Myers (6-12) held the Phillies to four hits and struck out eight in eight innings at Philadelphia. Barry Larkin had a first-inning double as the Reds scored twice and extended his hitting streak to 18 games.

Houston 8, New York 3--Howard Johnson hit two home runs at New York to increase his NL home run lead, but the Astros countered with their own sluggers.

Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio and rookie Andy Mota, son of longtime Dodger favorite Manny Mota, each hit home runs for Houston. Johnson’s home run was his 31st, increasing his league lead over Atlanta’s Ron Gant and San Francisco’s Matt Williams to three.

San Diego 5, Chicago 1--Darrin Jackson went three for three and Dennis Rasmussen and Mike Maddux of the Padres combined on a six-hitter at San Diego.

Jackson started two rallies against Cub left-hander Danny Jackson (1-5), trying to come back from arm trouble.