NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Weary Expos Win After 12 More Innings

Marquis Grissom scored on third baseman Matt Williams’ error in the 12th inning as the weary Montreal Expos beat the Giants, 6-5, at San Francisco Thursday to end the Giants’ five-game winning streak.

It was Expos’ seventh game in four days, after three consecutive doubleheaders at Dodger Stadium.

“I think everybody on the team turned it up a notch today,” Grissom said of the Expos, who played 68 innings in the seven games. “There’s no way I’m celebrating tonight. I’m going to bed.”

Grissom blooped a one-out single to center off Dave Righetti (1-6), went to second on a wild pitch, stole third and scored when catcher Kirt Manwaring’s throw got past Williams for an error. It was Williams’ second error of the game.

John Wetteland (2-2) worked three scoreless innings for the victory, giving up two hits.

The Expos got consecutive home runs by Larry Walker and Bret Barberie, leading off the second inning. Walker’s homer was his 16th.

San Diego 3, Philadelphia 1--Jim Deshaies, whose contract was purchased from triple-A Las Vegas earlier in the day, arrived in San Diego in time to pitch the Padres to victory, ending a five-game losing streak.

Deshaies (1-0), filling in for the injured Dave Eiland, worked 5 2/3 innings in his first big-league start of the year. He gave up three hits, struck out eight and walked five, including NL batting leader John Kruk three times.

Deshaies, 32, gave up Dave Hollins’ 11th homer, just inside the left-field foul pole, with two outs in the sixth inning, then walked Kruk and Darren Daulton before Jose Melendez came on to end the threat.

Dan Walters and Jerald Clark hit consecutive homers in the second inning for the Padres.

It’s likely that Deshaies, 6-3 with a 4.03 ERA at Las Vegas, will get only one start. Eiland was put on the disabled list Wednesday, retroactive to Sunday, and will be eligible to come off when the fifth spot in the rotation comes up after the All-Star break. He has an injured left ankle.

Cincinnati 5, Pittsburgh 2--Barry Larkin’s two-run double broke an eighth-inning tie at Cincinnati as the Reds continued their mastery of the Pirates.

The Reds have won the last five games between the NL’s division leaders, including a four-game sweep in Pittsburgh last weekend. They lead the season series, 6-3.

Scott Bankhead (9-2) pitched out of a scoring threat in the eighth inning to get his team-high ninth victory, and Norm Charlton pitched the ninth for his 21st save.

Atlanta 2, Chicago 0--Mark Lemke’s two-run triple in the 12th inning ended a scoreless tie at Chicago.

David Justice walked to lead off the 12th and Brian Hunter sacrificed him to second. Greg Olson also walked before Lemke lined a triple into the right-field corner off reliever Jim Bullinger (0-2).

Mike Stanton (2-4) pitched two innings for the victory, giving up no hits.

Houston 4, New York 0--Willie Blair won for the first time in the National League with six strong innings of relief at Houston as the Astros handed the Mets their 11th shutout of the season.

Blair (1-4) had a 5-8 record in the American League for Toronto and Cleveland before coming to Houston in an off-season trade. He gave up four hits and struck out a personal-best six in relief of Mark Portugal, who left the game after the third inning because of stiffness in his right elbow.

Blair entered the game with a team-high 5.59 ERA. He had given up 27 hits in 19 1/3 innings.

Loser Dwight Gooden (6-8) pitched seven innings, giving up three runs and seven hits.