NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Benes Beats Giants for 9th Victory in a Row

The way Andy Benes struggled early this season after a 10-11 record last year, the San Diego Padres were wondering if he would ever play up to expectations.

In June of 1988, the Padres made Benes, a 6-foot-6 right-hander from Indiana, the No. 1 pick in the draft. Through July 15 he was 4-10 and the Padres also were struggling.

The Padres no longer have any doubt about Benes. He has become the hot pitcher in the National League.

Benes held the Giants to four hits in seven innings Saturday at San Francisco, pitching the Padres to a 3-1 victory. It was Benes’ ninth victory in a row to improve his record to 13-10. He struck out nine and walked one.

In his last six starts Benes has pitched 46 2/3 innings, giving up only 27 hits and four runs.

Pitching coach Mike Roarke helped straighten out Benes’ pitching problems and teammates Bruce Hurst and Craig Lefferts helped with his attitude, Benes said.

“Now, I’m feeling good and there isn’t any struggle,” he said. “I’m making good pitches, whereas earlier I wasn’t. My breaking ball is better now. All in all, I’m in a groove.”

Pittsburgh 5, Philadelphia 3--John Smiley won his fourth in a row and joined Tom Glavine as the National League’s 18-game winners.

Smiley (18-8) gave up six hits before coming out with one out in the ninth inning.

He is the first Pirate left-hander to win 18 games since John Candelaria won 20 in 1977.

Houston 7, Cincinnati 3--Consecutive home runs by Mariano Duncan, Hal Morris and Paul O’Neill had given the Reds a 3-2 lead at Cincinnati.

But relief pitcher Rob Dibble was unable to hold it in the eighth inning, giving up run-scoring singles to Craig Biggio and Ken Caminiti. It was Dibble’s third blown save in 32 opportunities.

Dibble gave up four runs on five hits before Ted Power came in to get the last two outs in the ninth inning.

St. Louis 2, New York 1--David Cone and Jeff Innis held the Cardinals to one hit at St. Louis, but Cone lost again. The one hit by Ray Lankford was a two-run single in the fifth.

Rookie Omar Olivares (9-5) gave up five hits and an unearned run. Lee Smith got his 40th save.

Chicago 7, Montreal 5--The Expos built a 5-0 lead in six innings at Chicago, but the Cubs fought back and won it on Hector Villanueva’s two-run home run in the 10th.

Andre Dawson started the rally with a three-run home run in the sixth inning. Chico Walker singled in the tying run in the ninth.