NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Reds’ Sweep Generates Four-Game Lead

As baseball nears the traditional halfway point, it is becoming difficult to find a pennant race in the National League.

When the Pittsburgh Pirates refused to fold despite the serious injury suffered by Barry Bonds, a race failed to develop in the Eastern Division.

And, now, the Cincinnati Reds are threatening to make a runaway of the Western Division.

Chris Sabo drove in three runs, including the tiebreaker during the eighth inning as the Reds beat the Atlanta Braves, 6-5, Sunday at Cincinnati to increase their lead in the West to four games.

After winning 21 of 24 games, the Braves went into the start of the weekend series trailing by one game. The sweep left them frustrated.

The Reds outscored the Braves, 25-12.

“They came in on a roll, playing good baseball,” Red Manager Lou Piniella said. “We cooled them down. We’re only talking about June, but somebody had to slow them down.”

The Reds even ended Tom Glavine’s seeming invincibility at Riverfront Stadium, where he was 8-0. Three tainted runs during the first inning put him behind, and Glavine was out by the time the Braves scored two in the top of the eighth to tie, 4-4.

Bip Roberts opened the bottom of the inning with a single, was sacrificed to second and scored on Sabo’s single. Sabo scored later when the Braves missed a double play.

“We lost three games--that’s three games in the standings,” Brave Manager Bobby Cox said. “I’d take four games out at the All-Star break. But I’d rather be ahead.”

Sabo, who doubled and homered against Glavine, has a .351 average against the left-hander.

San Diego 7, San Francisco 3--A short time ago the Giants believed they were legitimate contenders in the West.

But after losing 12 of their last 15 games, they have fallen 10 1/2 games behind the Reds.

Fred McGriff and Tim Teufel hit two-run singles at San Diego to help rookie Frank Seminara win his third in a row.

Seminara (3-2) gave up five hits and three runs in six innings and struck out six.

John Burkett (5-5) gave up four runs and four hits in four innings and is 0-4 in his last six starts. During that span, he has given up 27 runs in 23 1/3 innings, although 10 runs were unearned.

It may have been a costly victory for the Padres, who trail the Reds by 5 1/2 games. Gary Sheffield, the league’s RBI leader (54), left the game during the fourth inning because of a sprained left thumb.

Montreal 9, Pittsburgh 0--Brian Barnes gave up five hits in 8 1/3 innings and Larry Walker hit two home runs to lead the Expos at Montreal.

Randy Tomlin (10-4) gave up five runs in six innings to end his six-game winning streak.

When Bonds went out with a painful side injury June 14, the Pirates had a five-game lead. Bonds might return Tuesday, and the Pirates are 5 1/2 in front.

St. Louis 3, New York 2--Gerald Perry singled against John Franco with the bases full and two out in the 11th inning at St. Louis to put the Cardinals into second place. But the distance between second and last is only 2 1/2 games.

Franco not only couldn’t get the save, he wound up with the defeat.

The Mets took a 2-1 lead in the top of the 10th on Bobby Bonilla’s run-scoring double. But in the bottom of the 10th, Perry singled, went to third on Brian Jordan’s single and scored on Bernard Gilkey’s sacrifice fly.

With two out in the 11th, Craig Wilson doubled. An intentional walk to Milt Thompson and an unintentional walk to Rich Gedman loaded the bases. Perry singled sharply to left.

Chicago 5, Philadelphia 3--Frank Castillo wanted to pitch his first complete game, but Cub Manager Jim Lefebvre had other ideas.

With two out in the ninth inning at Chicago, Lefebvre took Castillo out after Dave Hollins homered. Lefebvre brought Paul Assenmacher in to get John Kruk, the leading hitter in the majors, on an easy fly to end the game.

“I don’t care if it was a popular move,” said Lefebvre, who was booed by the crowd when he went out to remove Castillo. “The result was. I can’t let emotions control my decisions.”