NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Roberts Injured as He Crashes Into Wall; Reds Fall to Braves

The Cincinnati Reds’ division title hopes weren’t helped by Wednesday night’s game at Atlanta.

First, Bip Roberts, their versatile .300 hitter, was sidelined indefinitely when he crashed into the center-field wall.

Second, two runs scored on the play when the crash knocked the ball out of Roberts’ glove and the Braves went on to gain a 5-1 victory, stretching their lead in the National League West to 2 1/2 games.

Sid Bream and Damon Berryhill hit home runs on consecutive pitches by Tim Belcher (9-10) to help Steve Avery get the Braves’ fifth victory in a row.

There were two runners on base and one out in the first inning when David Justice sent a deep drive to center. Roberts, running at full speed, got his glove on the ball just before his face hit the padding.

Roberts lay there motionless for a couple of minutes, was fitted with a neck brace and taken to the hospital. The injury was diagnosed as a strained neck and slight concussion.

Roberts, 28, who can play any infield position, has also proved himself a fine outfielder. His loss takes away much of Manager Lou Piniella’s maneuverability.

Roberts will remain in the hospital overnight and will rejoin the Reds later in the week.

“It’s difficult emotionally to see a teammate carted off in the first inning,” Belcher said, “especially when the starting pitcher is getting shelled. It makes for a long night.”

Said Piniella: “It was scary. Anything with the neck, you fear the worst. He should be all right within a few days.”

Avery (9-7) shut out the Reds until the eighth, when he needed help with two out. “I didn’t have my best stuff,” Avery said. “I had no curveball, so I threw mostly the fastball.

“It’s no secret that I haven’t had much success against the Reds. They make me want to win more.”

Avery is 2-1 against the Reds this season and 4-4 overall against them with an earned-run average of 6.00.

Pittsburgh 6, New York 2--Rookie knuckleball pitcher Tim Wakefield has given the Pirates a tremendous lift. He made his second start his second victory, taking advantage of an early six-run cushion at Pittsburgh.

Wakefield, who beat St. Louis last week in his debut, gave up seven hits and two runs and struck out seven in eight innings.

“The kid’s for real,” said Bob Walk, who lost his spot in the rotation to Wakefield. “He didn’t have his best stuff, but he won.”

Andy Van Slyke continued to spark the Pirates, who have won six in a row. He singled in a run in the three-run first, then singled and scored in the third.

Montreal 5, Chicago 3--John Wetteland, who went to Cincinnati in the Eric Davis trade and wound up an Expo, retired the Cubs in the ninth at Montreal, striking out two, to get his 25th save.

Spike Owen and Delino DeShields each drove in two runs for the Expos. DeShields was three for three and was on base five times.

St. Louis 5, Philadelphia 4--John Kruk is the leading hitter in the major leagues, but he has never had a hit against Lee Smith.

This time, there were two on and two out in the ninth inning at St. Louis when Smith struck Kruk out to get his 26th save. Kruk went to 0 for 13 against the Cardinals’ relief pitcher. Ozzie Smith had three hits for St. Louis and Luis Alicea tripled home the go-ahead run in the sixth inning.

After striking out the side for his save, Smith said he has not lost anything on his fastball. “I throw just as hard as ever,” he said. “I just haven’t been as lucky. Last year when I hung a slider it was popped to Ozzie. This year I’ve thrown some good sliders that have gone for big hits.”

San Diego 4, San Francisco 1--Gary Sheffield singled in the go-ahead run to trigger a three-run eighth inning at San Diego that gave the Padres the victory.

In retrospect, the single was better than Sheffield’s long home run in a losing cause Tuesday night. It turned out it was not 468 feet and not the longest in the majors this season.