NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Forced Into Service, Tewksbury Singles to Lift Cardinals in 17th

Bob Tewksbury is normally a starting pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals. But during a game that lasted more than five hours Saturday night at St. Louis, he was forced into a relief role.

Tewksbury came on in the 16th inning and in the bottom of the 17th, he singled in the run that gave the Cardinals a 2-1 victory over the Montreal Expos.

Tewksbury (2-0), the Cardinals’ eighth pitcher of the game, singled home Rex Hudler from third with two out. Hudler opened the inning with an infield hit and took second on Gerald Perry’s single.

After Brian Jordan hit into a double play, Hudler going to third, Tewksbury lined a 1-and-0 pitch over the head of left fielder Marquis Grissom.

The Cardinal pitchers held the Expos scoreless for 15 innings after Darrin Fletcher singled home a run during the second inning.

Former Cardinal Ken Hill held them scoreless until the eighth inning, when Ray Lankford hit his second home run of the season.

The Expos are 0-9 in night games.

Atlanta 2, Houston 0--Steve Avery ended a mild slump by pitching a four-hitter at Atlanta to end the Braves’ three-game losing streak.

In his first three starts, Avery, who won 18 games last season plus two starts in the championship series and two more in the World Series, had given up 11 runs in 17 innings.

“Anyone gets a little itchy to get that first win,” Avery said. “It’s been a while since I got one, and you see some guys with four already.

“I’m still coming around and still am not 100% sharp, but it’s an improvement over what’s been going on. We just need a couple of breaks and we’ll be fine. I think the whole team feels the same.”

Mark Portugal (2-1) proved a worthy foe. But he gave up doubles to Terry Pendleton in the third and fifth innings, and Pendleton scored each time.

Pittsburgh 1, Chicago 0--The Pirates have developed such faith in reliever Stan Belinda, they felt free to release Bill Landrum, who had been their bullpen leader the previous two seasons.

It was also why they could remove Randy Tomlin in a tight game after he had given up only three hits in eight innings. Belinda retired the Cubs in order for his fifth save, and Tomlin joined Bill Swift of the Giants as a four-game winner.

In eight innings, Belinda has given up only one hit.

The Pirates scored during the sixth inning against Greg Maddux (3-1).

Tomlin reached on an error and Kirk Gibson walked. On a missed bunt, Tomlin was picked off second. Gibson, on a hit-and-run play, lost his helmet between first and second. Jay Bell hit the ball toward the hole and it hit Gibson’s helmet, bouncing to second baseman Ryne Sandberg. Gibson overran second and was tagged out. But Andy Van Slyke saved the day with a double to score Bell.

“I had to come through,” Van Slyke said. “If I don’t, we’ll wind up playing 20 (innings) or getting blown out.”

New York 3, Philadelphia 2--It’s only natural that the colder it gets, the worse Sid Fernandez, who grew up in Hawaii, feels.

But on a rainy, cold night at Philadelphia, Fernandez gave up only three hits in 6 2/3 innings and struck out 11 to get his first victory after two defeats.

“I hate cold weather,” Fernandez said. “But you’ve got to go out there and pitch. I just tried to battle as hard as I could and do my job.”

One of the hits was Steve Lake’s home run. It came during the fifth inning after Fernandez had retired 10 in a row.

Jeff Innis and John Franco finished for the Mets. Franco retired the side in order in the ninth for his third save.

Cincinnati 11, San Diego 5--The Reds got 17 hits at San Diego as Greg Swindell scored his first victory. After four shutout innings, Swindell (1-1) gave up five runs in the fifth, but had a big enough lead to survive.

Andy Benes (2-1), who entered the game with an earned-run average of 1.39, was shelled for seven runs in 4 2/3 innings.