NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Bonilla Is Ejected, but Mets Beat Cubs, 8-2

The New York Mets lost Bobby Bonilla to an ejection and Sid Fernandez to an injury and still beat the Chicago Cubs, 8-2, Monday night, giving New York consecutive victories for the first time in three weeks.

Bonilla was ejected when he made several efforts--including one that dumped plate umpire Larry Poncino in the dirt--to tangle with Cub pitcher Shawn Boskie after being hit by a pitch during the fourth inning. The benches and bullpens cleared, but there was only pushing, most of it by Bonilla, and no punching.

Fernandez (6-7) pitched 5 1/3 innings before leaving because of a tender left elbow, an injury the Mets do not expect will cost him a start. Boskie (5-4) left after four innings because of a stiff neck.

Bonilla led off in the fourth inning and was hit in the right elbow. He clutched the bat and took a few steps toward Boskie as catcher Joe Girardi and Poncino got between them.

Bonilla twisted loose from Poncino, leaving the umpire on the ground, but never got to Boskie. Later, after all the players were on the field, Bonilla broke free from Chicago’s Derrick May and made another attempt to get at Boskie, but failed.

Bonilla threw his helmet twice as he was ejected. Both teams were warned against further incidents and there was no trouble when Chicago’s Mark Grace was hit in the right thigh by Wally Whitehurst’s pitch during the seventh.

Dave Gallagher ran for Bonilla and scored on a double by Bill Pecota, who had three hits, and the Mets took a 3-0 lead.

Pittsburgh 5, St Louis 2--Randy Tomlin joined Atlanta’s Tom Glavine as the National League’s only 10-game winners, winning his sixth consecutive game as the Pirates beat the Cardinals at Pittsburgh.

Tomlin (10-3) limited the Cardinals to four singles before Tom Pagnozzi hit a two-run home run during the eighth inning.

Tomlin, who had only 12 career victories before this season, not only has helped replace 20-game winner John Smiley, but his winning streak is the longest for a Pirate since Smiley’s seven-game streak last season.

First baseman Andres Galarraga’s two-run error during the first inning gave the Pirates a lead before they got their first hit. Cardinal starter Donovan Osborne (5-4) got into trouble quickly by walking two batters before Andy Van Slyke’s grounder was mishandled by Galarraga, and the Cardinals never recovered.

Houston 5, Cincinnati 2--It was the fourth consecutive victory for Houston and the fourth consecutive loss for the Reds, cutting their lead in the National League West to one game over the Atlanta Braves, who were idle.

Brian Williams (2-0), in only his second start of the season, held Cincinnati to five hits in seven innings for the Astros at Cincinnati. A two-run home run by Luis Gonzalez and a solo shot by Pete Incaviglia led Houston.

The Astros scored twice during the first inning against Craig Hammond (5-3) and chased him in the third after Gonzalez’s home run. Tony Menendez, the White Sox’s No. 1 pick in the 1984 draft, made his major league debut in relief of Hammond and retired the first seven until Incaviglia homered during the fifth.

Menendez had never made a major league roster before Saturday, when the Reds added an 11th pitcher.

Philadelphia 5, Montreal 3--Pat Combs, making his first major league appearance since undergoing elbow surgery in August, had a one-hitter into the sixth inning, helping the Phillies beat the Expos at Montreal.

Combs (1-0) outdueled Brian Barnes (0-1), who also was making his first major league start.

Combs left the game during the sixth and Mitch Williams earned his 15th save.