NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Mets’ Leaky Infield Helps Astros Beat Fernandez

The Houston Astros still haven’t solved the New York Mets’ powerful pitching staff, but they finally found a way to beat them: Get some breaks from the Mets’ defense.

Shoddy fielding and a two-run single by Eric Anthony sparked a four-run seventh inning Tuesday at Houston, and the Astros held on for a 5-4 victory.

The Astros had lost four in a row to the Mets, scoring just four runs in the process.

Although Craig Biggio hit Sid Fernandez’s first pitch of the game for a home run, the Astros had only two more singles in six innings off Fernandez (1-3).

Wally Whitehurst, his successor, had two out in the seventh when the defense collapsed. Pete Incaviglia singled, third baseman Dave Magadan made an error and Rafael Ramirez’s infield hit loaded the bases. Pinch-hitter Anthony singled home two runs and second baseman Willie Randolph’s error sent in two more.

Mark Portugal (3-1) had a two-hit shutout through seven innings, but after Anthony batted for him and the bullpen almost blew it. The Mets scored four times in the eighth, three on Howard Johnson’s fourth home run, before Doug Jones came in to get the last four outs for his eighth save.

“It was definitely my best outing,” said Portugal, who is 19-8 at the Astrodome. “I had command of all my pitches. It’s something to build on now. The last time out, I walked a lot of batters. I hope to improve on that.”

Anthony drew praise from Manager Art Howe.

“He’s getting close to carrying over his hard work in batting practice to the game,” Howe said. “He’s forcing his way into the lineup.”

It was another strong performance by Fernandez. After the home run, he gave up an infield hit to Steve Finley, then retired 13 in a row.

“I felt fine,” said Fernandez, who has 43 strikeouts, second only to teammate David Cone’s 49. “I gave up one run on three hits. My only chance to win was to give up no runs.”

Montreal 5, San Diego 2--There were a couple of firsts at Montreal. In their first game since last Thursday--the Expos’ scheduled three-game weekend series at Los Angeles was postponed because of the riots--the Expos won their first night game after 12 defeats.

Then, in the third inning, Larry Walker hit what appeared to be a high routine fly to the right-field warning track. But the ball hit one of the speakers 150 feet above the field and dropped down onto the field.

According to the ground rules, it was a home run. Any ball striking a speaker in fair territory is a home run.

Dennis Martinez (2-4) gave up a run on seven hits in seven innings to get the victory.

Pittsburgh 5, Cincinnati 2--Andy Van Slyke had three hits, including his first home run and a double at Pittsburgh.

The Pirates, who scored 11 runs in the sixth inning Monday night, only scored two in this one, but it was enough to give them the lead.

Former Dodger Tim Belcher, who was 7-1 against the Pirates with the Dodgers, lost to them for the second time in a week and fell to 1-4 for the season.

Gary Varsho, retained despite his .188 average when the Pirates released Kirk Gibson, looped a single to right to score the tying run in the sixth and Steve Buechele’s short sacrifice fly scored speedy Barry Bonds with the go-ahead run.

Chicago 4, Atlanta 3--The back injury that put Shawon Dunstan on the disabled list gave Rey Sanchez his opportunity, and the Cubs’ backup shortstop made the most of his chance.

In a 3-3 tie at Chicago, the Braves gave an intentional walk to Hector Villanueva to fill the bases with one out in the 10th inning and bring up Sanchez.

Sanchez is just one-for-13, but he foiled the Braves’ strategy by hitting a sacrifice fly to right that enabled Andre Dawson to score the winning run.

It came off Alejandro Pena (0-2) and was only the Cubs’ second win in eight games.

The Cubs, still in a hitting slump, had only two hits in six innings off former teammate Mike Bielecki.

St. Louis 7, San Francisco 5--The Cardinals’ blew a five-run lead at St. Louis, but Todd Zeile’s sacrifice fly put the Cardinals ahead to stay in the sixth inning.

Zeile leads the Cardinals in runs batted in with 12, but it was his first RBI in 12 games.

Lee Smith pitched the ninth for his ninth save.