NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Pirates Rout Giants in Homecoming, 13-3

The Pittsburgh Pirates were so happy to escape California they went wild against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night.

After winning one out of nine games on the West Coast, the Pirates turned an eight-run seventh inning into a 13-3 romp at Pittsburgh.

The Pirates had lost five in a row, and they struggled for five innings in this one. A balk by relief pitcher Rod Beck enabled the Pirates to break a 2-2 tie in the sixth inning, and it seemed to end the string of bad luck that has dogged the Pirates.

Jose Lind followed the balk with a two-run double and the Pirates were rolling.

Even the maligned bullpen, the cause of several losses in California, made a contribution.

Bob Patterson, brought in to protect the lead for Vicente Palacios (3-0), capped the seventh with a bases-loaded double.

The runs didn’t excite the Pirates, who lost three games at San Francisco.

“It’s just one game. There are a lot of games left,” said Barry Bonds, who was two for three and drove in two runs. “We didn’t panic (on the road), and we’re not going to celebrate this.”

Giant Manager Roger Craig said: “The balk isn’t what beat us. Walks beat us--line drives, bloops, everything.”

Atlanta 5, New York 1--The Braves went the first half of last season without much help from John Smoltz. While the veteran right-hander had a 2-11 record before the All-Star break, the Braves contended in the West without him.

Smoltz won 12 of his last 14 decisions to lead the Braves’ drive to the division title.

He is starting his move earlier this season and trying to carry the Braves with him.

Smoltz came within one out of handing the Mets their third consecutive shutout at New York.

But Willie Randolph doubled in a run with two out to end the Mets’ scoreless streak at 28 innings. However, Smoltz (5-4) won his second in a row.

San Diego 2, St. Louis 1--It is the kind of situation the Cardinals love. There were two out in the ninth inning, a runner on second base and Lee Smith in to protect a 1-0 lead.

But Smith couldn’t save the game.

Gary Sheffield greeted Smith, who has a league-leading 14 saves, with a single to tie the score and Fred McGriff followed with a double to drive in Sheffield with what proved to be the winning run.

Thus, the Padres, moving to within percentage points of first place in the West, spoiled a fine performance by rookie Donovan Osborne and won their fourth in a row.

Osborne gave up two hits in the first inning, then did not give up another until Tony Gwynn doubled with two out in the ninth.

“That’s why we have Lee,” Torre said. “Lee Smith is our saver. With two out in the ninth and a right-hander up, that’s who you go to.”

Osborne, a left-hander, retired 24 batters in a row before Gwynn doubled.

Ray Lankford, the first batter to face Bruce Hurst (4-4), hit his fifth home run to give the Cardinals the 1-0 lead.

Philadelphia 2, Houston 1--Len Dykstra doubled home Ruben Amaro with two out in the 12th inning at Houston and the Phillies continued their winning ways on the road.

Amaro singled against Al Osuna (3-3) and scored the run that gave the Phillies eight victories in the last 12 games away from home.

Cincinnati 3, Montreal 2--Barry Larkin’s fourth hit, a single, scored pinch-hitter Billy Hatcher in the 11th inning at Cincinnati to give the Reds their fifth victory in a row.

The Reds are half a game out of first in the West.

Rod Dibble struck out four Expos in two innings. Scott Bankhead (5-1) got the victory.