NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Braves Make Turnaround After Pregame Meeting

The Atlanta Braves called a team meeting before Monday night’s game against St. Louis. After the game, Otis Nixon suggested having one all the time.

Nixon had three hits, Terry Pendleton extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a two-run homer and Charlie Leibrandt pitched a six-hitter as the Braves defeated the Cardinals, 5-1, at Atlanta.

Brian Hunter and David Justice added solo homers for the Braves, who won for only the third time in 10 games. The Cardinals lost for only the second time in nine games.

“It was time for a meeting,” Nixon said. “Basically, it was to talk about the confidence level, the attitude and turning this situation around and not look back.

It was the first complete game of the season for Leibrandt (4-2) in eight starts and his first in 28 starts dating back to June 27 of last year. Leibrandt walked two and struck out three.

Nixon, a switch-hitter, raised his average to .606 (20 for 33) batting right-handed with his three hits off rookie left-hander Donovan Osborne (4-2). Nixon is batting .426 overall.

Pendleton, who has also hit in 26 of his last 27 games, hit his seventh homer in the first after Nixon led off with a bunt single.

Hunter hit his third homer, and Justice, snapping an 0-for-17 slump, hit his fourth.

St. Louis spoiled Leibrandt’s shutout bid when Ray Lankford had an RBI single in the eighth.

Houston 4, Philadelphia 2--Jimmy Jones (1-0), who had elbow surgery last Sept. 13 and pitched 7 1/3 no-hit innings in his first start last week, gave up two runs in six innings at Philadelphia.

Kyle Abbott (0-7), a rookie left-hander who was traded to the Phillies from the Angels, gave up four runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Cincinnati 2, Montreal 1--Paul O’Neill broke a seventh-inning tie at Montreal with a run-scoring single.

Scott Bankhead (4-1) relieved Jose Rijo in the sixth and allowed two hits in 2 2/3 innings.

Norm Charlton earned his ninth save.