NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Braves Turn Ease Into Squeeze

A week ago, the Atlanta Braves had a six-game lead in the National League West and looked like a team breezing to the division title.

The lead is still five games, but suddenly the Braves aren’t so imposing.

After Charlie Leibrandt (11-5) held the Phillies to two runs and four hits in eight innings Saturday night at Philadelphia, the Braves barely hung on for a 7-6 victory.

In the absence of bullpen ace Alejandro Pena, the Braves used three relievers, and when Kent Mercker came in to get the last out, the potential tying run was on third.

The victory ended a four-game losing streak.

The loss of Pena, who had 15 saves before developing soreness in his right elbow, has not helped. In the last five games, relievers have given up 10 runs in 13 1/3 innings.

This was the third sharp outing in the last three weeks for Leibrandt. Because he doesn’t throw as hard as the youngsters, the veteran left-hander is the least impressive of the starters.

He previously this month went the distance to beat the Dodgers and Montreal, giving up only three runs.

With David Justice hitting a home run and driving in three runs, Leibrandt took a 7-0 lead into the seventh. He lost his shutout when Dave Hollins hit his 19th home run, a two-run shot.

Leibrandt survived an embarrassing moment in the second inning after striking out Darren Daulton for his 1,000th career strikeout. Forgetting to call time, Leibrandt rolled the ball into the dugout and was given an error because there was a runner on first who was allowed to advance to second.

New York 6, Cincinnati 5--The Mets are hoping to see signs that Dwight Gooden will return to his best form. The signs weren’t there for this game at New York.

Gooden (8-11) survived six shaky innings and the Mets, winning their sixth in a row, dealt another blow to the Reds’ pennant hopes.

Gooden gave up seven hits and four runs, but Chico Walker was three for three and drove in three runs and Gooden doubled home one himself.

Gooden is still recovering from off-season shoulder surgery.

The Reds had won four in a row and cut Atlanta’s lead in the West to 3 1/2 games before losing three in a row to the Mets.

Houston 8, Montreal 2--The Expos climbed into the race in the East because they were the best road team.

But in two games at Houston they have been rocked.

Ken Caminiti, who had two hits in the 8-1 victory Friday night, had three hits, including a home run, and drove in four runs in this romp.

Jimmy Jones (8-5) went 5 1/3 innings to win four games in a row for the first time in his career.

Chicago 7, San Francisco 2--Frank Castillo (8-12) won his second in a row, but he was ejected in the seventh inning at Chicago for what his manager said was a “retaliation” pitch.

After Mark Grace and Andre Dawson hit consecutive homers in the sixth, Jeff Brantley hit Steve Buechele, the next batter. Both benches emptied, but order was maintained.

In the seventh, Castillo hit Robby Thompson, which meant automatic ejection for Castillo and Manager Jim Lefebvre.

“When someone drills one of our players, you’ve got to pay them back,” Lefebvre said.

Rey Sanchez and Ryne Sandberg hit back-to-to back home runs in the eighth for the Cubs.

Pittsburgh 3, San Diego 2--Andy Van Slyke singled home the tying run in the eighth at San Diego and Barry Bonds hit a sacrifice fly for the go-ahead run on the next pitch.