NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Braves’ Smith Is Major Contributor

Pete Smith is finally showing the Atlanta Braves that he is a major league pitcher.

Bothered by arm problems in 1990 and 1991, Smith was recalled from triple-A Richmond on July 31 to fill the fifth starter role after Mike Bielecki hurt his arm and was sidelined for the season.

Smith pitched a four-hitter Saturday night at Atlanta as the Braves beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 3-2.

It was the third consecutive victory for Smith (3-0), who struck out six, walked two, and lowered his earned-run average to 1.76 in his first complete game since May 26, 1990. It was the 10th career complete game for Smith, who was 19-40 in four previous seasons with the Braves.

“In my own mind I always felt that I belonged,” Smith said. “Now I’m proving it to everybody else.”

Cardinal Manager Joe Torre said Smith is an entirely different pitcher than the one he remembered from a few years ago when he relied mostly on a fastball.

“Now he changes speeds,” Torre said. “He doesn’t like to strike people out. He just wants to get them out. He’ll give most teams trouble.”

David Justice hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning against Mark Clark (2-7), rallying the Braves from a 2-1 deficit. Justice’s 11th homer came after a single by Jeff Blauser.

“I haven’t been doing much the whole year,” said Justice, who has nine hits in his last 19 at-bats. “With the slow start I’ve had, it’s been uphill all season. To get hot now would be a good time.”

San Diego 4, New York 2--Gary Sheffield hit two home runs at San Diego as Bruce Hurst beat the Mets for the fourth time this season.

Sheffield, who leads the league with a .339 average, homered in the fourth and eighth innings, giving him 27 this season and tying teammate Fred McGriff for the league lead. Sheffield has driven in 87 runs, tying him for the RBI lead with Philadelphia’s Darren Daulton.

Hurst (13-7), who has shut out the Mets three times, gave up three hits in eight innings as the Padres ended a five-game losing streak. He struck out three and walked one. Randy Myers pitched the ninth for his 26th save.

Pete Schourek (3-6) gave up three runs and six hits in six-plus innings before leaving with a sore left arm.

Bobby Bonilla hit his 15th homer for the Mets. Benito Santiago hit his seventh homer for the Padres.

Pittsburgh 9, San Francisco 2--Barry Bonds, Jay Bell and Mike LaValliere hit two-run homers and Doug Drabek pitched eight strong innings as the Pirates won for the first time in five games at Candlestick Park.

Drabek (10-9) gave up four hits and two runs and has pitched at least eight innings in 11 consecutive starts.

“You’ve got to beat him, he doesn’t beat himself,” the Giants’ Willie McGee said of Drabek. “He’s confident, but he doesn’t get too excited out there. He kind of exemplifies their whole team. When you look at them on paper, it looks like an average team. But when you play them, they’re a championship team.”

The Pirates chased starter Francisco Oliveras (0-3) during a four-run third.

Will Clark hit his 14th homer for the Giants.

Montreal 3, Cincinnati 1--Marquis Grissom homered and also stole home at Montreal as the Expos remained four games behind Pittsburgh in the East.

Grissom hit his 11th homer during the sixth. He doubled in the eighth and took third on pitcher Norm Charlton’s wild pick-off throw after he coaxed the pitcher to step off the rubber a dozen times.

Expo Manager Felipe Alou called for a squeeze play, but Moises Alou missed the bunt. Grissom then slid past catcher Joe Oliver’s tag.

“I found out late there was a squeeze on,” Grissom said. “I thought I’d left third too soon. I slowed down. There was no need of sliding. I tried to get out of the way to avoid the tag.”

The Reds fell seven games behind first-place Atlanta in the West, the Reds’ largest deficit of the season.

Mel Rojas (4-1) pitched 2 1/3 shutout innings in relief of starter Brian Barnes. John Wetteland got five outs for his 28th save.

Greg Swindell (12-6) pitched on three days’ rest for the first time in 178 career starts, and gave up two runs and seven hits in six innings.

Houston 14, Philadelphia 9--Jeff Bagwell hit a two-run triple and Pete Incaviglia hit a two-run homer during a six-run seventh at Philadelphia.

The Astros, playing the next-to-last game of their 26-game, 28-day trip, had a season-high 18 hits.

“We’re trying to give everybody an opportunity to contribute,” Astro Manager Art Howe said.

Dave Hollins and Ricky Jordan homered for the Phillies.