NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Giants Get Off to Fast Start in Sweep, 8-2

The San Francisco Giants have moved to the top of the NL West by scoring runs early and often.

On Sunday, the Giants completed a three-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds by scoring four runs during the first inning en route to an 8-2 victory at San Francisco.

The Giants, who have won four in a row, scored six runs in the first inning of their victory over the Reds on Saturday. The Giants are tied with Houston for first place and will begin a three-game series against the Astros tonight in the Astrodome.

John Burkett (1-1) retired the first 12 Reds and gave up only five singles in eight innings. He struck out three and walked none.

“When our guys are hitting the ball and scoring runs early, it makes it a lot easier on the pitchers,” Burkett said. “Getting the 4-0 lead enabled me to become more aggressive.”

The Giants sent eight batters to the plate for six hits and four runs against Tim Belcher (1-2) during the first. The Giants added three runs against Belcher in the third.

“We scored 15 runs in two games without Matt Williams (who is injured),” Giant Manager Roger Craig said. “That shows we have got a pretty strong bench, and that’s what you need to have a good ballclub.”

Houston 1, San Diego 0--Pete Incaviglia drove in the run with a two-out single during the 11th inning at Houston as the Astros completed a three-game sweep.

Rafael Ramirez singled against Rich Rodriguez (0-1) to start the bottom half of the 11th inning and moved to second on a sacrifice by Chris Jones. Craig Biggio was intentionally walked and Steve Finley grounded out to second, with the runners advancing. Jeff Bagwell was intentionally walked to load the bases before Incaviglia singled.

San Diego’s Andy Benes gave up five hits and struck out 11 in nine innings.

The Astros, starting the season with a 15-game home stand, have won four consecutive games to improve to 7-5, while the Padres have lost four in a row.

Xavier Hernandez (1-0) pitched one-third of an inning for the victory.

Pittsburgh 11, Philadelphia 0--Gary Varsho hit an inside-the-park homer and Steve Buechele and Andy Van Slyke each had three hits at Pittsburgh as the Pirates continued their best start in 26 years.

Buechele drove in three runs and Van Slyke scored three as the Pirates won their sixth game in a row and improved to 9-2 for the first time since 1966. The Pirates outscored the Phillies, 27-6, during the sweep and have won 23 of their last 30 against the Phillies.

Bob Walk left after 3 2/3 innings because of a strained right groin, but Bob Patterson (1-0) got the victory with 3 1/3 scoreless innings. Roger Mason completed the three-hit shutout.

The Phillies were held to one hit until Mariano Duncan’s leadoff double in the seventh.

The Pirates, who had 12 hits Saturday, had a season-high 17 hits Sunday.

Danny Cox (1-1) gave up nine hits and five earned runs in four innings.

For the weekend, Phillie starters gave up 21 hits and 16 runs in 14 1/3 innings to an offense that was hitting a league-low .214.

St. Louis 4, Chicago 3--Jose DeLeon got his first victory since July 28 and benefited from a four-run fourth inning at St. Louis.

DeLeon (1-1), who was 5-9 last season despite a career-best 2.71 earned-run average, gave up four hits and a run in five innings.

Danny Jackson (0-3) has not won in 12 starts dating to June 14 and has only one victory in the last two seasons.

Lee Smith, the fifth St. Louis pitcher, went 1 1/3 innings for his fourth save.

New York 11, Montreal 6--Howard Johnson, batting .163 entering the game, hit a three-run double during the seventh inning and finished with five RBIs to lead the Mets at Montreal.

Anthony Young (2-0) gave up two runs in 3 1/3 innings in relief of Sid Fernandez. Todd Hundley hit his first homer of the season during the eighth, when the Mets added four runs. Marquis Grissom homered for the Expos.