NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Mets’ Turnabout Gets Ugly; Braves Win, 4-1

The New York Mets have not been a factor in the National League East, but they have all but decided the race in the West.

After winning four in a row over the weekend to send the Cincinnati Reds reeling, they have done an about face against the Atlanta Braves.

Rookie David Nied held the Mets to four hits in seven innings Tuesday night at New York and the Braves won, 4-1. It was their third victory in a row over the Mets, and their lead in the West soared to 7 1/2 games.

Before the weekend, the Braves had lost three in a row, their pitching had gone sour and they led the Reds, winners of four in a row, by only 3 1/2 games. With only 32 games left, the Braves are in a strong position to repeat.

David Justice hit a two-run home run in the first inning and that was enough for Nied, who was 14-9 with a 2.84 earned-run average for triple-A Richmond. He seemed a bit nervous and gave up a double to Vince Coleman, who scored the Met run.

The Braves’ new bullpen ace, Jeff Reardon, pitched the ninth for his second save in 24 hours.

In the second inning, Coleman and Met Manager Jeff Torborg were involved in a pushing match and an argument. Coleman became irate over a checked-swing strikeout call by umpire Gary Darling and was ejected. Torborg came out and tried to act as peacemaker. He and Coleman pushed each other and argued before Bobby Bonilla took Coleman off the field.

The Mets announced Coleman had been suspended for two days without pay for “insubordination.”

Darling’s report may give Coleman added punishment.

“He hit me in the chest,” the umpire said. “That will be in my report.”

Suddenly, the Braves’ pitching seems to be straightening out. Nied gave them a big lift.

“I was a little nervous but not scared,” Nied said. “It was a big difference coming from Pawtucket to Shea Stadium.”

Montreal 5, Cincinnati 2--Dennis Martinez kept the Reds in their slump. He gave up eight hits in eight innings at Cincinnati in improving to 15-10 with his fifth victory in a row.

John Wetteland worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth by striking out three batters for his 30th save.

The Reds have lost six in a row.

Pittsburgh 5, San Francisco 3--Jay Bell is known for his defensive play at shortstop, but before the game at Pittsburgh Manager Jim Leyland talked about his hitting in the clutch.

“Almost every game he comes through with something big,” Leyland said.

It happened again. Bell, a .380 hitter in the last two weeks, singled home two runs in the fifth inning to bring the Pirates from behind.

Danny Jackson, giving up only one earned run in seven innings, improved his record with the Pirates to 3-2.

The Pirates, whose 3-6 record against the Giants going into the game was their worst against any team, remained three games ahead of Montreal in the East.

“The last two Septembers, we kept coming back in the late innings,” Bell said. “We’re feeling comfortable again.”

The Giants have lost seven in a row. Manager Roger Craig blamed turmoil over the possible move to Florida.

St. Louis 2, San Diego 0--Donovan Osborne (10-7) pitched a strong seven innings at St. Louis, then turned over the chores to the best bullpen one-two punch.

Todd Worrell pitched a hitless eighth, and Lee Smith pitched the ninth for his league-leading 37th save. It was the fifth win in a row to put the Cardinals at .500, and in four of them Worrell and Smith worked their late-inning magic.

Geronimo Pena and Tom Pagnozzi hit home runs.

Houston 5, Philadelphia 3--Ken Caminiti got an inside-the-park home run at Houston on a blooper to help the Astros win.

The fly dropped just in front of Phillie center fielder Stan Javier, who made a diving attempt, bounced high on the artificial turf and rolled to the fence.

Luis Gonzalez also homered for the Astros.