NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Talkative Murray Hits His 400th Homer

Eddie Murray, discontent with the Baltimore Orioles and not always content as a Dodger, seems to be a happy camper with the New York Mets.

Murray, sometimes reluctant to talk with the media, was a man of many words Sunday after hitting his 400th home run in the Mets’ 7-0 victory at Atlanta.

David Cone pitched a five-hitter and became the sixth pitcher in the last eight games to pitch a shutout at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, known as a hitter’s paradise until lately. The others were pitched by Braves.

Murray’s ball, which cleared the left-field fence against reliever Marvin Freeman in the eighth inning, was retrieved and presented to him. He was the 24th player in major league history to hit 400 home runs, but only the second switch-hitter. Only Mickey Mantle, with 536, hit more.

“It’s a pretty decent number,” Murray said. “It (the ball) is something to keep in the house with me.”

Murray is the 15th player to have 2,500 hits and 400 home runs. He needs 11 more runs batted in to reach 1,500.

“Reaching 400 was something I thought about this winter,” Murray said. “But there’s been no pressure. I’ve just been going out and trying to hit the ball.”

At 36, Murray was pondering his chances of hitting 137 more and surpassing Mantle, a Hall of Famer.

“I don’t know if I can,” he said. “That’s something to think about. If I can stay healthy. . . . A lot of people play this game, and not many have 400. I would probably be more proud of passing Mickey. I don’t know if I can catch him.”

One thing is for sure, Murray has been instrumental in the solid start of the Mets. Although this was only his second home run, earlier in the game he hit his 10th double. He has driven in 20 runs, is batting .278 and almost half his 25 hits are for extra bases.

Cone, who struck out eight while pitching his second consecutive shutout, improved his record to 3-1. He seems happy to have Murray on his side.

“Eddie has been a tremendous presence,” he said. “He doesn’t talk to the media much, but he’s great to have in the clubhouse.”

Howard Johnson also reached a milestone. He stole two bases and became the 16th player to have 200 steals and 200 homers.

Charlie Leibrandt (2-2), who fell apart in the fifth inning after retiring the first 12 batters, had retired 32 consecutive batters--dating back to his last start--before Bobby Bonilla beat out an infield hit to open the fifth inning. Murray followed with a double to trigger a five-run inning.

Cincinnati 7, Chicago 1--Apparently this time, when the Reds brought Jose Rijo off the injured list, he was ready to pitch.

Although the hard-throwing right-hander didn’t get the victory at Cincinnati, he pitched very well.

Rijo, who went back on the disabled list complaining of a sore elbow after losing his first three starts, had a limit of 70 pitches.

When he reached 70, he had a 4-1 lead, but he was one out away from pitching the required five innings. Scott Bankhead came on, gave up one hit in 3 1/3 innings and improved his record to 3-0.

“My arm feels fine, but my head doesn’t feel too good at all,” Rijo said after giving up six hits. “It’s tough, too tough for me. I’m 0-3 and thought I had a chance to get my first win.

“I know I’m on a pitch limit. But when you’re close, one out away, it’s so hard. I have four days to look for it now. I’ll get no sleep at all.”

Houston 1, Pittsburgh 0--Steve Finley hit a home run with two out in the eighth inning at Houston to break a scoreless tie.

It made a winner of Al Osuna (3-0), who retired only one batter in the eighth. When he walked Cecil Espy to open the ninth, Doug Jones came in to retire the side for his seventh save in eight opportunities. Jones, one of the best closers in the American League with Cleveland three years ago, seems on his way back.

Philadelphia 12, San Francisco 3--Cliff Brantley might not soon forget his first start of the season in this game at San Francisco.

Brantley appeared to be breezing to victory when the Phillies scored five runs in the sixth inning to take an 11-1 lead.

But when teammate Dave Hollins was hit by a pitch for the seventh time this season by Rod Beck, tempers flared.

So when Brantley came out to pitch, he hit Kevin Bass. Umpire Bruce Froemming put a halt to the problem by ejecting Brantley and Manager Jim Fregosi of the Phillies.

Mariano Duncan sparked the Phillies’ 15-hit attack, going five for five, scoring five runs and driving in another.

St. Louis 7, San Diego 1--Bob Tewksbury (3-0) pitched a six-hitter at San Diego and Felix Jose continued his torrid hitting.

Jose, who started the season on the disabled list, had three hits, scored two runs and drove in two. He raised his average to .455.

Tewksbury lowered his earned-run average to 1.46, third best in the league.

The Cardinals routed Dave Eiland with seven runs in the first two innings.