NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Giants Get Offensive, Beat Cardinals, 9-3

So much for the San Francisco Giants’ lack of offense. The St. Louis Cardinals’ pitching cured that.

After scoring five runs in their previous three games, the Giants, behind homers by Kevin Bass and Matt Williams, defeated the Cardinals, 9-3, Thursday at San Francisco.

The Giants gained a split of the two-game series and ended the Cardinals’ three-game winning streak.

Bass gave the Giants a 2-0 lead in the first inning with his first home run, a two-out, opposite-field drive off Jose DeLeon (1-2).

Bass added an RBI single off reliever Juan Agosto in the fifth inning.

Bass has replaced Matt Williams as the Giants’ No. 4 hitter.

Williams, off to a poor start, hit his fifth home run of the year off Cardinal reliever Bob McClure in the eighth inning.

John Burkett (2-1) went eight innings, giving up six hits and three runs--two earned--while striking out five. He also contributed an RBI double in the second.

New York 4, Houston 3--Eddie Murray singled home the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the Mets, stung by a rare home run from Rafael Ramirez, bounced back to beat the Astros at New York.

It was the Mets’ eighth consecutive home victory. Houston lost its fifth in a row, all on the road.

Ramirez, who had not homered since June 28, connected for a two-run shot with two outs in the eighth off Sid Fernandez, tying the game 3-3. Until that point, Fernandez had pitched one of the best games of his career, striking out 12 and walking none.

Fernandez allowed only one runner--Pete Incaviglia, who doubled to start the fifth--through seven innings and helped extend the Met staff’s streak of consecutive scoreless innings at home to 36. But Casey Candaele singled with one out in the eighth and Ramirez then matched his home run total of last season with a drive to left.

Jeff Innis (3-1) relieved after Ramirez homered and got the final out of the eighth, and the victory. John Franco worked the ninth for his fourth save.

Montreal 9, San Diego 3--Larry Walker and Darrin Fletcher each hit two-run homers in the sixth inning at San Diego to lead the Padres.

Ken Hill (2-2) worked seven innings and gave up six hits and three runs. His earned-run average rose to 1.42, still best in the National League.

The Expos provided Hill with more support than in his first four starts combined. During that stretch, Montreal scored four runs in the 29 innings that he pitched.

Jeff Fassero held the Padres scoreless over the last two innings.

Padre starter Andy Benes (2-2) gave up seven runs and 10 hits in six innings.