NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Gooden Beats Braves With Arm and Bat

Dwight Gooden pitched eight strong innings, hit a home run and drove in three runs Saturday to lead the New York Mets past the Atlanta Braves, 6-1, at New York, giving Dallas Green his first victory as manager of the Mets.

Gooden (5-4) also had two singles as the Mets won for only the seventh time in their last 26 games. He gave up seven hits.

Vince Coleman and Jeff Kent also homered for the Mets against John Smoltz (4-4). Gooden, Coleman and Kent had combined for two homers before Saturday.

Dave Justice homered for the Braves’ only run.

The Mets lost to Atlanta, 4-2, in Green’s debut on Friday night.

Cincinnati 6, San Francisco 2--The Reds’ offense resurfaced at San Francisco as Cincinnati ended a five-game losing streak and stopped the Giants’ seven-game winning streak.

The Reds, who scored only four runs and had 19 hits in their last four games, had 11 hits, including three home runs.

The Reds chased starter Bud Black (3-1) during the fifth inning after Barry Larkin hit a two-out homer, Kevin Mitchell singled and Chris Sabo homered for a 5-0 lead. Black gave up eight hits.

Jose Rijo (6-1), who has won his last five starts, gave up two runs and nine hits in eight innings, struck out five and walked one. Jeff Reardon got the save.

Pittsburgh 4, St. Louis 2--Bob Walk gave the Pirates’ rotation a much-needed strong start, and Jay Bell drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning at Pittsburgh.

Walk (5-3), unscored upon while going 2-0 in six appearances against the Cardinals last season, gave up two runs and five hits in seven innings to win for the third time in his last four decisions.

Chicago 2, Florida 1--Sammy Sosa, replacing the injured Willie Wilson, singled and scored the winning run on Mark Grace’s double in the seventh inning at Miami.

Greg Hibbard (4-3) gave up seven hits, walked none and struck out five before giving way to Bob Scanlan with two out in the seventh inning. The Cubs’ infield turned four double plays behind Hibbard, and Randy Myers pitched the ninth for his 13th save in 13 opportunities.

Montreal 6, Philadelphia 5--Moises Alou had a two-run single, capping a three-run game-winning rally in the ninth inning at Philadelphia.

Mitch Williams relieved to start the ninth with a 5-3 lead, and wound up with his third blown save in 17 chances. At the end of the inning, Williams exchanged words with Delino DeShields and the benches cleared, but no punches were thrown.

Phillie Manager Jim Fregosi came out of the dugout after order was restored and began arguing with the umpires. He was ejected.

San Diego 9, Houston 4--Andy Benes won despite giving up three home runs at San Diego.

Ken Caminiti hit two homers, one inside the park, and Jeff Bagwell had a rare homer to San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium’s second deck, but it didn’t prevent the Astros from extending their losing streak to five games.

Benes (7-3) went six innings, giving up four runs and five hits.