NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Bream, Hunter Rescue Braves in the Ninth

The Atlanta Braves snapped their three-game losing streak in dramatic fashion Saturday night.

Held to five hits and trailing, 5-2, going into the bottom of the ninth inning at Atlanta, the Braves used two-run home runs by Sid Bream and Brian Hunter to beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 6-5.

Former Brave Ben Rivera had pitched well for eight innings. But he gave up a leadoff single to David Justice and Bream followed with his ninth home run.

Mitch Williams, the Phillies’ closer who usually manages to get a save after working out of bases loaded jams, was summoned from the bullpen.

Lonnie Smith greeted Williams, who has 23 saves, with a double. After a fly out, Hunter hit his 13th homer and the Braves remained 6 1/2 games ahead of the Cincinnati Reds in the West.

Jeff Reardon retired the Phillies in order in the top of the ninth for his first win in the National League since 1986.

“This is the kind of victory that can get a team rolling again,” Reardon said.

The Phillies appeared to have things well in hand when Dave Hollins and Darren Daulton tagged Steve Avery for home runs. Daulton’s 25th was a two-run shot that gave him the league RBI lead with 94.

Houston 5, Montreal 2--Darryl Kile, who had not won since April, dealt the Expos’ pennant hopes a blow at Montreal.

Kile (3-9) yielded just five hits in eight innings and Ken Caminiti hit a two-run home run as the Astros ended the Expos’ six-game winning streak.

“I got a load off my shoulders,” Kile said. “This was a period of self-adjustment. Every player hates to go through a down period. It’s frustrating but you become a better player because of it.”

With the Pirates winning their seventh in a row, the Expos fell four games back in the East.

The Astros, finishing strong after a slow start this season, have won 16 of their last 23 games.

Kile had not won since April 24 and had lasted only three innings against the Expos last Sunday. He gave up a run in the first inning, but after the Astros scored three times in the third inning, he was in charge.

San Diego 5, Chicago 3--Greg Maddux said he was just protecting a teammate at Chicago, but it cost him a shot at his 17th victory and perhaps a chance at the Cy Young Award.

Maddux, in a tie game in the eighth inning, hit Dan Walters and was ejected from the game. Jerald Clark then hit a two-run homer off his replacement, Jeff Robinson, to break the tie.

What prompted Maddux’s actions was when the Padres’ Jose Melendez threw a pitch behind the Ryne Sandberg. When Maddux hit Walters, umpire Ed Montague ejected him.

“Greg is a great competitor,” Montague said. “You know he’s going to protect his players and you hate to throw him out of the ballgame, but that’s what the situation called for.”

Fred McGriff hit his 33rd home run, putting him four ahead of teammate Gary Sheffield. Sheffield is out with a hamstring injury and hopes to return Monday.

Cincinnati 6, New York 5--Just when it appeared that they were going to lose for the ninth time in the last 10 games, the Reds rallied in the ninth inning at Cincinnati.

Bill Doran and Jeff Branson hit two-out singles to drive in runs and bring the Reds from behind for just their second win in 10 games. Branson, 12 for 31 as a pinch-hitter, lined a single to center to drive in the winning run.

Anthony Young, who had been effective out of the bullpen, blew his second save opportunity in a row and wound up losing for the 11th time in 13 decisions.

Eddie Murray, who hit a grand slam Friday night, got thrown out of the game for arguing with home plate umpire Ed Rapuano while preparing to bat with the bases loaded.

Before stepping to the plate, Murray, nine for 13 this season with the bases loaded, motioned for second base umpire Terry Tata to move to the shortstop side of the bag because left-hander Norm Charlton was pitching. Tata moved a couple of steps, but refused to move to the other side.

An argument developed and Tata motioned for Murray to get in the batter’s box. Rapuano then ejected Murray, claiming he used profanity.

Manager Jeff Torborg, who had joined the argument, was ejected a couple minutes later, and Chico Walker was ejected from the bench after that.

St. Louis 4, San Francisco 0--Todd Worrell, who has been used mainly as a setup man for Lee Smith, but Worrell got the last four outs in St. Louis to save Rheal Cormier’s well-pitched game.

His second save this season was his 128th to tie Bruce Sutter’s club record. The two saves this year are his first since 1989. He missed two seasons because of arm trouble.

Cormier (6-10) had extended his scoreless streak to 17 1/3 innings before needing help from Worrell with two out in the eighth.

Felix Jose homered for the Cardinals and Rod Brewer doubled home two runs in the eighth.