NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Reds Play in Spirit of 1990

The Cincinnati Reds continue to inspire images of 1990, when they won the National League pennant and swept the Oakland Athletics in the World Series.

The Reds beat the Atlanta Braves, 12-3, Saturday at Cincinnati, increasing their NL West lead to three games over the defending National League champions.

“I think this shows a lot of people that this team is good under pressure,” Cincinnati pitcher Jose Rijo said. “Everybody was hungry and ready to do something.

“This team reminds me of the ’90 team. We had a seven- or eight-game lead, and a couple times it got to 2 1/2. In those situations, we came back and won. We’re doing it again this year.”

Rijo (4-6) gave up three runs and six hits in six innings as the Reds beat the Braves for the second consecutive game. He also had a double and run-scoring single.

The Braves came to Cincinnati with 21 victories in 24 games and a one-game deficit to make up. They have suffered consecutive losses for the first time since May 25-26.

“We haven’t been behind like that for I don’t know how long,” Manager Bobby Cox said. “It’s a strange feeling to do that.”

The Reds scored seven runs in two innings against Charlie Leibrandt (6-3) en route to their season-high for runs. Leibrandt, who lost for the first time since May 3, gave up five hits and three walks in 1 2/3 innings, his shortest appearance of the season.

The Braves’ pitching staff brought a streak of 28 scoreless innings into Riverfront Stadium, but it has given up 19 runs and 21 hits in the two games.

Hal Morris had a bases-loaded single that put the Reds in control during the first inning. Morris is batting .408 with 14 runs batted in for the last 15 games.

Chris Sabo and Joe Oliver hit home runs for the Reds, who have not made an error in 45 innings. The Braves committed three errors that helped the Reds turn the game into a rout.

New York 2, St. Louis 1--Bill Pecota’s two-out double during the 11th inning scored Dave Gallagher and gave the Mets the victory at St. Louis.

Gallagher drew a walk from Lee Smith (2-3) with one out, stole second and scored when Pecota lined a 3-and-2 pitch to center field.

John Franco (6-0) escaped a two-on and two-out situation in the 10th and pitched a perfect 11th for the victory.

Donovan Osborne, looking for his first victory since May 23, worked the first nine innings for the Cardinals. He gave up four hits, struck out four, walked none and retired the last 15 he faced.

The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead during the first inning when Geronimo Pena singled and scored on Ray Lankford’s one-out triple.

The Mets’ Howard Johnson hit his seventh homer during the second inning.

Philadelphia 5, Chicago 4--Wes Chamberlain hit a home run during the eighth inning that helped give the Phillies the victory at Chicago.

Chamberlain’s homer came against Chuck McElroy (3-4) and gave Mike Hartley (4-1) the victory.

Wally Backman gave the Phillies a 5-3 lead with an RBI pinch-single during the ninth.

Mitch Williams gave up a run-scoring single to Joe Girardi during the ninth before earning his 16th save.

Dave Hollins hit his ninth homer for the Phillies.

Pittsburgh 12, Montreal 4--Orlando Merced hit a three-run homer in the first inning as the Pirates had 17 hits at Montreal.

Andy Van Slyke had four hits and Steve Buechele hit a solo homer for the Pirates.

Jeff Robinson (3-0), signed by Pittsburgh on June 10 after being released by Texas, worked five-plus innings for the victory.

Stan Belinda, who got his first major league hit in the ninth, got the final four outs for his 11th save.

San Francisco 5, San Diego 3--Kevin Bass hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning as the visiting Giants ended a four-game losing streak.

Bass connected with one out off reliever Randy Myers (2-2) for his fourth hit of the game and third homer of the season. Mike Felder opened the 10th with a single.

Jeff Brantley (3-4) pitched two scoreless innings for the Giants, who had lost 11 of 13.