NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Cardinals Complete Triple Play, Beat Mets

The St. Louis Cardinals had a couple of firsts Tuesday night--Todd Zeile’s first home run and the major leagues’ first triple play of the season--during a 7-4 victory over the mistake-prone New York Mets at St. Louis.

Zeile’s three-run homer highlighted a four-run first inning against 6-foot-10 rookie left-hander Eric Hillman (0-1)--tied with Seattle’s Randy Johnson for the distinction of being tallest player in the major leagues.

Ray Lankford added a two-run single in the fourth, and the Mets gave St. Louis plenty of help--especially third baseman Howard Johnson--as they lost for the 12th time in 15 games.

Johnson made a throwing error during the first, was caught off second on the triple play during the second, then hit into a double play during the fourth. Met pitchers also botched two plays at first and misplayed a force attempt at second.

With runners on first and second during the second, Johnson apparently thought Todd Hundley’s one-hop drive to second baseman Geronimo Pena was going to be caught in the air. He froze off second base as Pena threw to shortstop Ozzie Smith for a forceout. Smith threw to first to get Hundley.

First baseman Gregg Jefferies kept Johnson stranded by running over before throwing to Smith for the tag at second base as the Cardinals turned their first triple play since Sept. 5, 1991.

Atlanta 5, Houston 4--Jeff Blauser had three hits and Ron Gant’s sixth-inning home run proved decisive for the Braves at Houston.

John Smoltz (4-3) went 6 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on seven hits. He struck out two and walked four while leading the Braves to their fifth victory in six games. Mike Stanton worked the ninth inning for his 12th save.

Doug Drabek (3-4) pitched seven innings, giving up five runs on nine hits while striking out two and walking two.

Pittsburgh 8, Philadelphia 4--The Pirates had four consecutive hits and scored three runs during the seventh inning against reliever Mark Davis at Philadelphia.

With the score 4-4 and one out in the seventh, Andy Van Slyke walked and Jeff King singled him to third. Orlando Merced sliced a run-scoring single, pinch-hitter Lloyd McClendon doubled home a run and Tom Prince singled in another.

Paul Wagner (1-0) pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief of Dave Otto, giving up one hit, striking out two and walking two. Davis (1-1) gave up four hits and three runs in two-thirds of an inning.

Montreal 6, Florida 4--Marquis Grissom drove in three runs and Moises Alou had a two-run double for the Expos at Montreal.

Grissom hit a tie-breaking, two-run double during the seventh against Cris Carpenter (0-1), who failed to retire the three batters he faced.

Alou’s double during the sixth extended his hitting streak to 12 games. He had to leave at the end of the inning after suffering a strained groin muscle.

Reliever Mel Rojas (1-1) struck out the only batter he faced in the seventh. John Wetteland, the fourth Montreal pitcher, got the final out for his third save.

Cincinnati 4, San Diego 2--The Padres made four errors behind Wally Whitehurst at Cincinnati, undercutting the pitcher’s return from elbow surgery.

Whitehurst (0-1), making his first appearance since surgery on his right elbow in October, gave up six hits and three runs--only one earned--in five innings. Consecutive fielding errors during the second inning gave Cincinnati two runs.

Milt Hill (2-0) took over for an injured Tim Belcher and pitched out of a bases-loaded threat during the third, striking out Phil Plantier and Derek Bell. Hill pitched three scoreless innings.

Tony Gwynn’s line drive hit Belcher on the right forearm during the first inning. Belcher stayed in the game until the third.

San Francisco 5, Colorado 3--Bill Swift earned his fourth consecutive victory at Denver, helping the Giants end a three-game losing streak.

Swift (4-1) gave up three runs and seven hits in 8 1/3 innings.