NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Justice Leads Braves Past Astros, 9-3

The Atlanta Braves, who don’t figure to be threatened by second-place Cincinnati in the West, are having trouble finding anyone in the league to challenge them.

Saturday at Houston, they won their eighth in a row, beating the Astros, 9-3, as David Justice hit two home runs and drove in four runs.

“We’ve been playing well here for a long time, don’t ask me why, but it just seems like we always get a couple of runs and our pitching holds up,” Atlanta Manager Bobby Cox said.

Added Houston Manager Art Howe: “It seems like they’re hot every time we play them. When we give them a pitch to hit, they don’t miss it.”

Still, it wasn’t all easy for the Braves. Starter John Smoltz lasted 3 2/3 innings and gave up three runs and seven hits. But rookie David Nied (2-0) pitched three scoreless innings of relief for the victory.

“David Nied was the key to the game,” Cox said.

Cincinnati 7, San Diego 4--Jose Rijo pitched eight shutout innings and hit a two-run single for the Reds at San Diego.

Padre starter Bruce Hurst (14-8) gave up five runs and 12 hits in 7 1/3 innings, including Barry Larkin’s solo home run during the eighth and rookie Willie Greene’s triple. That gave Greene his first major league RBI.

The third-place Padres fell 11 games behind Atlanta, their biggest deficit of the season.

Padre outfielder Tony Gwynn, who has a sprained ligament in his left knee, sat out his fourth consecutive game. The knee bothered him while running sprints and he was scratched from the lineup moments before the game.

St. Louis 11, Chicago 3--Ray Lankford, Felix Jose and Todd Zeile homered and the Cardinals strung together five singles during a four-run sixth inning at St. Louis.

The three homers gave the Cardinals 50 for the year at home, their most since 51 in 1970. Jose had three hits and drove in three runs.

Rheal Cormier (7-10) won his fourth decision in a row, going the distance despite giving up 10 hits. No Cub reached base in the last three innings.

Mike Morgan (14-7), who had won his four previous decisions, gave up a season-high seven earned runs in five-plus innings.

Pittsburgh 9, Philadelphia 7--Jay Bell tripled home the tying run and then scored on Andy Van Slyke’s single as the Pirates rallied for three runs during the ninth inning to win at Philadelphia.

Dave Hollins, who drove in five runs for the Phillies, hit a three-run homer during the eighth against Stan Belinda for a 7-6 lead. But the Pirates came back and won for the 10th time in 13 games.

Montreal 4, New York 1--Dennis Martinez matched his career high with victory No. 16 and Tim Wallach hit a three-run homer to lead the Expos at Montreal.

Martinez (16-11) gave up five hits, including Chico Walker’s home run during the ninth, struck out four and walked one for his sixth complete game as the Expos beat the Mets for the 10th time in 14 games.

Pete Schourek (5-7) gave up seven hits, struck out two and walked two in five innings for his first loss after three consecutive victories.

Martinez has won 16 games on three other occasions--in 1978 and 1982 with the Baltimore Orioles, and in 1989 with the Expos.