NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Pirates Get Nine Runs in Ninth

Kirk Gibson says he does not believe the Pittsburgh Pirates can maintain their current pace.

But Gibson, acquired by the Pirates during spring training from Kansas City, intends to enjoy it while he can.

Gibson’s grand slam was part of a nine-run ninth inning that helped the Pirates get their seventh consecutive victory, 11-1 over the Montreal Expos Monday night at Montreal.

“This start is too good to be true,” Gibson said. “Our day is coming when we’ll struggle. Then we’ll find out how good we are.”

Gibson hit a 3-and-2 pitch from Bill Sampen over the right-field fence. Barry Bonds, who had singled to lead off the inning, added a three-run homer off Sampen.

The Pirates sent 13 men to the plate in the ninth. Former teammate Bill Landrum was charged with five of the runs.

The win improved the Pirates’ record to 10-2, the team’s best start since the 1962 club went 11-1.

Randy Tomlin (3-0) pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings. He gave up five hits, walked four and struck out four.

Expo pitcher Ken Hill (1-2) allowed his first earned run in the fifth after 20 2/3 scoreless innings.

Houston 3, San Francisco 2--Mark Portugal pitched seven innings and Craig Biggio homered as the Astros moved into sole possession of first place in the NL West with the victory at Houston.

The Astros, who have won five consecutive games, were last alone in first place on June 12, 1989. Houston (8-5) has two games left in its season-opening 15-game home stand.

Portugal (2-0) gave up one run and five hits. Doug Jones pitched two innings for his fifth save.

Chicago 8, Philadelphia 3--Rookie Gary Scott hit a grand slam and pitcher Greg Maddux hit a solo homer at Chicago as the Cubs handed the Phillies their sixth consecutive loss.

Scott’s homer in the fourth inning came against former Cal State Long Beach All-American Kyle Abbott (0-3).

Maddux (3-0) hit his second career homer in the third inning.

Atlanta 10, San Diego 4--Terry Pendleton drove in a career-high six runs and Deion Sanders scored three times to lead the Braves at San Diego.

Pendleton, who entered the game batting .180 with five runs batted in, hit a two-run double to cap a three-run, tiebreaking rally in the fourth inning and added a three-run double in the eighth.