NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Braggs Starts Series With Bang

Glenn Braggs opened a weekend showdown for first place in the NL West in grand style.

Braggs hit a first-inning grand slam that sent the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-4 victory Friday night over Atlanta at Riverfront Stadium, slowing the Braves’ charge on first place after they had won five in a row and nine of 10.

“That was a dynamic hit,” Braggs said. “I think I’ve come close (to a grand slam) 10 or 12 times. It was a good situation to get the first one.”

The victory gave Cincinnati a two-game lead over the Braves, the majors’ hottest team. Atlanta came into the game having trimmed the Reds’ lead from 4 1/2 games to one.

Although the Reds have been atop the NL West every day in June, they are getting a little uncomfortable about the Braves’ charge. Atlanta won three of four from the Reds at home last weekend to set the stage for this challenge.

The Reds got the breaks from the start, opening the game with three infield singles. When Braggs followed with the home run off Steve Avery on a 1-and-2 pitch, it was the first ball they got out of the infield.

“Three bloopers and a blast, and that meant four runs,” Cincinnati Manager Lou Piniella said.

It also meant the game.

“It all came down to that,” Avery said. “If I get out of it, it changes the whole game. We might go on and win. But down 4-0 is too much for your hitters to overcome.”

Tom Browning got the victory to improve to 14-5 against the Braves, his best mark against any club.

San Diego 6, San Francisco 2--Craig Lefferts pitched 6 2/3 innings of no-hit ball and allowed three hits in seven innings at San Diego.

Lefferts (9-5) lost his no-hit bid when Cory Snyder hit a 434-foot home run with two out in the top of the seventh.

Lefferts also gave up a run-scoring double to Robby Thompson, but walked none and struck out five to help the Padres to their third consecutive victory. Snyder’s homer ended the Giants’ scoreless streak at 33 innings. The Giants, who have scored three runs in their last five games, have lost four in a row and 11 of their last 13.

Dan Walters had a run-scoring double and Kevin Ward added a two-run double in San Diego’s four-run fourth inning. Darrin Jackson, who was three for four, closed the scoring with a two-run single in the seventh.

Bud Black (4-2) had his four-game winning streak ended after giving up four runs on eight hits in five innings.

Chicago 3, Philadelphia 0--Mike Morgan pitched six-hit ball for 7 2/3 innings and Luis Salazar drove in two runs with a homer and a single to lead the Cubs at Chicago.

Morgan (7-2) won his seventh consecutive decision and improved to 7-0 lifetime at Wrigley Field, including 3-0 since he joined the Cubs this season. He struck out six and walked two.

Paul Assenmacher rescued Morgan with two runners on in the eighth inning, getting Darren Daulton on a long fly ball, and Jim Bullinger relieved Assenmacher in the ninth, inducing Ricky Jordan to hit into a game-ending double play with two runners on. Bullinger earned his seventh save.

Salazar singled home a run in Chicago’s two-run fourth inning and hit his second home run in the sixth against Kyle Abbott. Abbott is 0-9 and within three losses of the Phillies’ record for consecutive losses to start the season, a mark set by Russ Miller in 1928 and tied by Ken Reynolds in 1972.

Montreal 6, Pittsburgh 2--Dennis Martinez, again taking advantage of offensive support, beat the Pirates for the first time in four decisions this season by giving up two runs and five hits in six-plus innings at Montreal.

Martinez (8-6) is 10-7 lifetime against Pittsburgh, despite losing three games to the Pirates this season. And, since opening day in 1989, he is 37-3 with 20 no-decisions when the Expos score at least four runs.

Pittsburgh’s Zane Smith (5-7) lasted only 1 2/3 innings and is winless in nine starts. He gave up five runs and five hits.

St. Louis 4, New York 3--Felix Jose hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning and capped the night with a bases-loaded single with one out in the ninth inning to snap a 3-3 tie for the Cardinals at St. Louis.

Geronimo Pena singled with one out in the ninth off loser Jeff Innis (4-4) and stole second. Todd Zeile and Ray Lankford then walked--Lankford on four pitches--before Jose singled to center through a drawn-in infield.

Lee Smith (2-2), the fourth St. Louis pitcher, worked a scoreless ninth for the victory.

David Cone struck out 12 and drove in a run with a squeeze bunt.