NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Expos Slow Cubs’ Move by Winning in 17th, 3-2

This was the week the Chicago Cubs planned to start their stretch drive in the National League East.

They were fresh from a four-game sweep of the New York Mets that put them at .500.

Their first task was to slow down the surprising Montreal Expos. Then they would be ready to challenge the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Forget the rest of the plans. Disposing of the Expos was more than the Cubs could handle.

Delino DeShields singled home Darren Reed from second base with two out in the 17th inning Tuesday at Chicago to give the Expos a 3-2 victory and a six-game lead over the third-place Cubs.

The Expos pounded the Cubs, 11-0, Monday, but this was a struggle. Ken Hill, their ace, left with a 2-1 lead after a strong eight innings. But usually reliable reliever John Wetteland served up a home run to Mark Grace in the ninth and sent the game into extra innings.

The Expos’ third victory in a row and sixth in the last seven games moved them to within 2 1/2 games of the Pirates.

“This is the kind of game that wins pennants for you,” Expo Manager Felipe Alou said. “I don’t know if we’re going to win it or not, but it shows how much endurance they have. I think they grew up a lot in those three doubleheaders they played in three days in Los Angeles. We were ready to go. We could have played 50 innings today.”

Reed led off the 17th with a single against Jeff Robinson (2-2), but Tom Foley bunted foul on a third strike. On a hit-and-run play, Reed reached second while Archi Cianfrocco was being thrown out by shortstop Rey Sanchez to bring up DeShields.

“I was shocked when they pitched to me,” DeShields said. “I really thought they would walk me and pitch to Marquis (Grissom) just like they did in the 15th inning.”

Bill Sampen (1-4), the fifth Expo pitcher, went two innings and won for the first time since last September. The Montreal bullpen has a 3-1 record with 12 saves in 26 games since the All-Star break.

New York 2, Pittsburgh 0--Eric Hillman, a flop as a reliever early in the year, made a memorable debut as a starter on Tom Seaver Night at New York.

The 6-foot-10 left-hander gave up six hits in eight innings to put an end to the Mets’ seven-game losing streak and ended the Pirates’ 11-game winning streak.

Hillman, recalled from Tidewater where he was 8-1 as a starter, had only two hours of sleep before hurrying to join the Mets.

The crowd voiced disapproval when the Mets batted for Hillman in the eighth.

But John Franco mowed down the Pirates in the ninth and the skid was over.

The Pirates rested Barry Bonds and Andy Van Slyke, and gave Doug Drabek little support. Drabek (9-9) went the distance, giving up two unearned runs when third baseman Jeff King made an error with two out in the third inning.

San Diego 8, Atlanta 4--Gary Sheffield suffered a concussion Sunday and was a doubtful starter at Atlanta.

To the chagrin of the Braves, he was ready to play. Sheffield hit a two-run home run and two doubles and sparkled in the field to lead the Padres to their sixth victory in a row.

Despite the loss, the Braves retained their four-game lead over Cincinnati in the West.

Bruce Hurst (12-6) won his fourth consecutive decision, but left after rain delayed the game for 70 minutes in the seventh inning.

Houston 6, San Francisco 3--The wind was blowing out and the Astros took better advantage of it than the host Giants.

Eric Anthony, Eddie Taubensee and Luis Gonzalez each hit home runs to give the Astros a 4-0 lead and they hung on to win it.

Will Clark and Robby Thompson hit home runs during the Giants’ rally that fell short.

St. Louis 7, Philadelphia 6--Tom Pagnozzi doubled home the winning run with two out in the top of the ninth at Philadelphia and the Cardinals ended their four-game losing streak.

Todd Worrell (4-3) pitched an inning for the victory and Lee Smith worked the ninth for his 27th save.