NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Pittsburgh Skein Ends at 9 Games

The Pittsburgh Pirates took care of their nine-game winning streak Thursday and wasted no time in tarnishing their reputation for strong defense.

They made five errors--three in the first inning, costing two runs--in losing, 6-3, at Montreal. The Pirates had committed only eight errors in 14 games.

Spike Owen drove in two runs and Mark Gardner won his second game as the Expos handed Pittsburgh its third loss in 15 games.

“We didn’t play very sharp. That happens to your defense from time to time,” Pirate Manager Jim Leyland said.

Gardner (2-1) gave up seven hits over 8 1/3 innings and John Wetteland came on for his third save with runners on first and second in the ninth.

Zane Smith (3-1) was the loser.

Marquis Grissom led off the first inning with a double and continued to third when Cecil Espy bobbled the ball in left field. Owen hit a ground ball to third baseman Steve Buechele, who threw home. Grissom knocked the ball out of catcher Mike LaValliere’s hands to score on the error.

Owen took second on the play, went to third when Buechele misplayed Ivan Calderon’s ground ball and scored on Larry Walker’s fielder’s choice.

New York 1, St. Louis 0--Daryl Boston was hit by Juan Agosto’s pitch with one out and the bases loaded in the 13th inning to give the Mets a victory and a three-game sweep at home.

The Mets’ Bret Saberhagen, who entered the game 0-2 with a 13.15 earned-run average, gave up five hits in nine shutout innings while Donovan Osborne matched him for the Cardinals.

Dave Magadan singled with one out in the 13th inning off Agosto (0-2) and Rodney McCray pinch-ran. Junior Noboa singled to right. McCray then stole third and pinch-hitter Charlie O’Brien walked to load the bases.

Agosto had a 1-and-2 count on Boston when he grazed him in the chest area with the pitch.

John Franco (2-0) pitched two innings for the victory as the Mets won for the seventh time in eight games.

Philadelphia 8, Chicago 2--Kim Batiste hit his first major league home run and Tommy Greene gave up two hits over seven innings for the Phillies at home.

Greene (2-1) struck out six and walked five, giving up both runs in the first inning on three walks, an error and an infield out.

Frank Castillo (0-1) pitched 6 1/3 innings and gave up seven runs and six hits for the Cubs.

Wes Chamberlain singled home two runs during the first inning to give Philadelphia a lead, but the Cubs tied it during their half of the first with three walks, an error and an infield out.

Ruben Amaro drew a two-out walk during the fourth inning and Batiste followed with his drive into the left field seats to give the Phillies a 4-2 lead and control of the game.