NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Tomlin Helps Pirates Extend Streak

All Randy Tomlin needed to end his slump was another chance to face the St. Louis Cardinals.

Tomlin held the Cardinals to five hits in eight innings Friday night at St. Louis and pitched the Pirates to a 5-1 victory, their eighth in a row.

Tomlin (11-7) also singled home a run and scored another during his first victory since June 22. In seven consecutive outings, four of them poor performances, the left-hander had failed to win.

But his performance against the Cardinals enabled the Pirates to extend their lead in the National League East to 3 1/2 games over the Montreal Expos.

When Tomlin beat the Cardinals, 5-2, on June 22, he was the most dependable Pirate pitcher and played a starring role in the team’s 6 1/2-game lead.

But when Tomlin slumped, so did the Pirates. By the end of July, they had fallen into a tie for first with the Expos.

“I don’t worry about when they win, I worry about how they pitch,” Manager Jim Leyland said. “He’s done a good job. He’s pitched pretty well.”

The Cardinals have helped the Pirates regain their edge. They lost four last weekend at Pittsburgh and now have lost eight in a row to the Pirates.

Jeff King homered and Orlando Merced hit a two-run triple to support Tomlin.

King, who has had several key hits during the winning streak, singled home the go-ahead run during the 13th inning Thursday night.

Rheal Cormier (3-9) lasted six innings and gave up two runs on six hits.

Cincinnati 4, San Francisco 3--There’s nothing like getting back home for the Reds. Glenn Braggs and Reggie Sanders hit two-run home runs and the Reds, swept in a three-game series at Atlanta, bounced back at Cincinnati.

Jose Rijo (9-8) gave up six hits, but only one earned run in seven innings.

Sanders, who has been on the disabled list twice in recent weeks, also had a home run Thursday.

It was the sixth loss in seven games for the Giants.

San Diego 4, Houston 2--Left-hander Jim Deshaies held the Astros to two hits through eight innings at San Diego and scored two runs himself.

But Deshaies faltered in the ninth and the Astros scored twice and had the potential tying runs on base when Randy Myers finally got the last out.

Tony Gwynn made a brilliant catch of Pete Incaviglia’s line drive to prevent the Astros from tying the score.

Philadelphia 3, Montreal 1--Rookie right-hander Ben Rivera won his first major league game in his fourth start, holding the Expos to four hits in eight innings at Philadelphia.

Rivera (1-2) gave up four hits over eight innings. Mitch Williams pitched the ninth for his 21st save.

Lenny Dykstra opened the bottom of the first with a home run and Ricky Jordan homered during the sixth to end the Phillies’ five-game losing streak.

Chris Nabholz (7-8) gave up 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Chicago 9, New York 1--Even David Cone’s luck ran out for the Mets. The right-hander had kept the club afloat by winning eight in a row.

But Cone gave up seven hits and seven runs in six innings at Chicago and his record fell to 13-5.

A two-run double by Doug Dascenzo highlighted a seven-run fourth inning. Dascenzo was playing in place of injured Sammy Sosa.

Mike Morgan (10-5) coasted after the seven-run inning, handing the Mets their fourth loss in a row.