NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Daulton Powers Phillies Past the Reds, 8-2

It was only a little more than a year ago that an auto accident almost ended Darren Daulton’s career.

The Philadelphia Phillies’ catcher was a passenger in the car teammate Len Dykstra drove into a tree on May 6, 1991. Daulton suffered injuries to the socket of his left eye and his left knee.

The sixth operation on the knee during the off-season figured to bring Daulton, 30, close to the end of his career.

But Daulton is back and is off to the best start of his career.

Daulton drove in three runs with a single and double at Philadelphia to lead the Phillies to an 8-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds Friday night.

The Phillies, who have won three in a row to climb out of the cellar in the National League East, broke the game open in the fifth inning against Tim Belcher. Dave Hollins doubled home the tiebreaking run and John Kruk hit a two-run home run.

Kruk also had a single and increased his major league-leading average to .390. Daulton, who plays every game as if it was his last, increased his average to .328.

“I have no cartilage underneath my kneecap, so it’s bone-on-bone,” Daulton said. “I’m a catcher and do a lot of squatting. It rubs bone-on-bone and (chips) break off. You can’t replace the cartilage.”

Daulton has had knee problems since June of 1986 when Mike Heath, then of the St. Louis Cardinals, collided with him at the plate. At the time, Daulton was among the leaders in home runs per at-bat.

It wasn’t until 1990 that Daulton returned to the level that made him one of the top catchers in baseball. He led NL catchers in games, walks, runs, doubles and tied for the lead in home runs. He signed a three-year contract for $6.75 million. Then came the accident and more knee surgery.

He made it back this spring, but barely. After 15 games, he was batting .132. He has an explanation of why he has regained his ability to hit.

“Mostly, it’s health,” Daulton said. “I can play ball and it doesn’t hurt much. The knee affects everything. There may be a couple of chips in there, but right now I’m going good.”

Cliff Brantley (2-2) pitched seven innings, giving up four hits. Both Red runs were unearned.

San Diego 2, Chicago 0--Andy Benes is in a groove and Gary Sheffield is continued as one of the league’s hottest hitters.

After losing his no-hitter in the seventh inning, Benes (5-3) settled for a three-hitter and his first complete game this season.

Sheffield doubled in a run during the eighth to break the scoreless tie. Sheffield extended his hitting streak to 15 games.

Sheffield’s hit made a loser of Greg Maddux (4-4), who had pitched seven shutout innings.

Tony Fernandez’s infield single started Maddux’s downfall. A sacrifice and Sheffield’s double scored the first run and Benito Santiago singled in the second run.

Benes has bounced back from a stretch during which he lost three in a row at home from April 25 to May 6. In those games he gave up 18 runs and 29 hits in 16 2/3 innings.

Mark Grace opened the seventh with a single to spoil Benes’ no-hit bid.

San Francisco 7, New York 6--Although Bill Swift failed in his bid for a seventh consecutive victory at San Francisco, the Giants took him off the hook.

The Mets took a 5-1 lead against the unbeaten right-hander, who had missed a previous turn because of a stiff shoulder.

But the Giants rallied for six runs in the sixth. Mike Felder’s triple scored Cory Snyder with the go-ahead run and Felder scored on a wild pitch.

The Mets scored during the ninth, but Dave Righetti ended the game by getting Dave Magadan on a grounder.

Montreal 7, Atlanta 1--Dennis Martinez made certain the Expos’ new manager, Felipe Alou, began with a victory.

In addition to pitching a two-hitter, Martinez had two hits, scored a run and drove in another.

Martinez (4-4) struck out four and walked none. He lost his shutout when Damon Berryhill hit a home run during the eighth.

The Expos’ lead was only 1-0 until they knocked out Tom Glavine and scored six runs in the seventh. Martinez drove in a run and scored one during the rally.

Houston 3, St. Louis 1--Mark Portugal held the Cardinals to two hits in 8 1/3 innings at St. Louis to improve to 4-1.

Portugal retired the side in order in every inning except the fourth before faltering in the ninth.

Ozzie Smith had both Cardinal hits during the game, which was delayed more than an hour because of rain. Smith’s second hit brought Doug Jones in to get the last two outs and his ninth save.

After the long delay, Cardinal starter Jose DeLeon had control trouble. He walked the first two batters and Eric Anthony drove them home with a double.