NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Braves Close Within 1 1/2 Games of Reds in West

The Atlanta Braves stopped the Cincinnati Reds over the weekend, winning the final three games of a four-game series, and may have found themselves a stopper, too.

Kent Mercker, who picked up the victory Friday night in relief, got his first two saves of the season Saturday and Sunday at Atlanta.

In Sunday’s 2-0 victory, Mike Bielecki, Marvin Freeman and Mercker combined on a six-hitter. Mercker got the last two outs, striking out pinch-hitter Reggie Sanders for the final one.

Mercker had been openly seeking the role of closer because others in the bullpen had blown eight of 23 save opportunities. But, until this weekend, he had pitched mostly in mop-up roles.

Sid Bream’s two-out single in the sixth inning scored Terry Pendleton--who had singled and moved to second on a groundout--to break up a pitching duel between Bielecki (2-3) and Jose Rijo (3-6).

The Braves, who have won 19 of 22 games, pulled to within 1 1/2 games of the first-place Reds in the NL West.

San Francisco 1, San Diego 0--Kevin Bass’ one-out single over a drawn-in outfield scored Robby Thompson in the 11th inning to give the Giants a victory over the Padres at San Francisco.

Thompson doubled off Jose Melendez (5-4) to lead off the 11th, the Giants’ second hit of the game. After Kirt Manwaring sacrificed Thompson to third, Bass hit a 1-and-2 pitch to deep center field.

Cory Snyder got the Giants’ first hit with a two-out single in the seventh off reliever Rich Rodriguez.

Padre starter Greg Harris, in his first game since returning from the disabled list, fractured the middle finger on his right hand while attempting to bunt in the third inning. The Padres said he was going back on the DL.

The play happened one batter after the Giants’ Bill Swift, also making his first start since returning from a month-long stay on the disabled list, was hit in the right leg with a line drive by Kurt Stillwell. But Swift stayed in the game after being examined by trainers and walking it off.

Pittsburgh 5, Montreal 4--Stan Belinda got his 10th save by getting the final two outs at Pittsburgh, but he really saved the Pirates by going out of his way to make the defensive play of the game.

The Expos, who rallied from five runs down to make the score 5-4, threatened to tie the score in the ninth when Marquis Grissom singled and stole second and third.

With one out, Belinda got Moises Alou to fly out to short right field, and right fielder Gary Varsho caught the ball just behind first. But his off-balance throw to the plate was five feet over catcher Mike LaValliere’s head. Grissom was halfway down the line and would have scored easily if Belinda, who caught the ball 20 feet behind the plate, hadn’t backed up the play.

Jeff Robinson (2-0) shut out the Expos on five hits over six innings before being lifted for a pinch-hitter.

New York 6, St. Louis 2--Vince Coleman’s three-run homer capped a five-run rally in the seventh inning as the Mets beat the Cardinals at New York. Coleman has 596 stolen bases, but this was only his 18th homer.

The Mets’ David Cone (7-4) struck out 11 to increase his National League-leading total to 114.

Chicago 5, Philadelphia 2--Mike Morgan (6-2) gave up six hits in 8 2/3 innings as the Cubs won at Philadelphia. The former Dodger right-hander was two outs away from a shutout when Dave Hollins hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth.