NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Reds Beat Giants in 16th Inning, 4-3

While the front-running Atlanta Braves are fattening up on the Dodgers, the Cincinnati Reds are struggling to keep from losing ground.

After the Braves scored an easy victory early in the day, the Reds needed five hours Saturday night at Cincinnati to beat the San Francisco Giants.

After being frustrated in three situations with the bases loaded, the Reds finally won in the seventh extra inning without getting a hit.

Mike Jackson walked Bill Doran with the bases loaded and two out in the 16th inning and the Reds won, 4-3, to remain 3 1/2 games behind the Braves in the National League West.

It was a night of frustration for the Reds until Manager Roger Craig of the Giants brought in Jackson in the 16th. Jackson hit Glenn Braggs to fill the bases, then walked Doran on a full count.

The Reds had loaded the bases in the ninth, 10th and 13th innings and had stranded 18. Barry Larkin’s single drove in the tying run during the eighth.

The Giants forged ahead during the ninth when Mike Felder hit a two-run home run.

The game featured 25 hits, 15 of them by the Giants, 11 walks, 10 of them by Giant pitchers, and five errors. There were 14 pitchers, seven for each team.

Rookie Jim Pena, who walked Reggie Sanders to open the 16th, was the loser. Dwayne Henry, who pitched a perfect 16th, striking out two, was the winner.

Montreal 6, Philadelphia 1--It is rather surprising that Felipe Alou remains the interim manager of the Expos instead of the full-time leader.

Although the Expos have surged into contention in the National League East since Alou took over, management has made no offer to make his job more permanent.

It doesn’t seem to affect Alou. He simply keeps pushing the Expos to keep the pressure on the Pirates.

Dennis Martinez (12-10) pitched a four-hitter at Philadelphia and the Expos remained 3 1/2 games behind the Pirates.

Martinez had only himself to blame for not getting his first shutout of the season. He missed first base on a play during the ninth inning with two out that enabled the Phillies to score.

Martinez also had two hits and scored a run. Last season, his five shutouts led the league.

When Alou replaced Tom Runnells as manager on May 22, the Expos were 18-20 and trying to avoid the cellar. Under Alou they are 41-32.

Pittsburgh 2, St. Louis 1--The Cardinals might be giving the Pirates a false sense of security. With the Cardinals in a deep slump, the Pirates have beaten them in six of the nine in a row they have won.

Andy Van Slyke hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning to break a 1-1 tie.

Zane Smith and three relievers kept intact the Pirate string of giving up no more than two runs in any game during the winning streak.

Smith, who has had tendinitis in his left shoulder, came off the disabled list shortly before the game. He went five innings, giving up seven hits and the Cardinal run.

Bob Walk went two innings for the victory and Stan Belinda pitched the ninth for his 15th save.

Bob Tewksbury (11-5) gave up two runs in 7 2/3 innings and the best ERA in the majors moved up to 1.95. He had beaten the Pirates twice.

Chicago 4, New York 3--The Mets, who have been losing a regular player nearly every day lately, had a break-even day at Chicago despite another loss.

The loss was Dave Magadan, sidelined because of a broken right wrist after being hit by a relay throw during the Mets’ three-run fifth inning.

The gain was Dwight Gooden. Gooden, sidelined since July 17 because of inflammation of his right shoulder, gave up three runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings, and reported no pain.

The Cubs won in the ninth when Mark Grace hit a sacrifice fly to score Doug Dascenzo with the tiebreaking run.

San Diego 7, Houston 5--Darrin Jackson’s three-run home run during the seventh inning against Rob Murphy lifted the Padres to victory over the Astros at San Diego. Gary Sheffield also homered for the Padres.