NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Smith Wastes Lead, but Cardinals Salvage Win

Lee Smith blew a ninth-inning lead for the second time in three days, but the St. Louis Cardinals rallied twice in the final two innings and won on Rod Brewer’s 10th-inning sacrifice fly, 4-3, Sunday at Pittsburgh.

With the score, 3-3, following rookie Kevin Young’s tying home run during the ninth, Ozzie Smith singled with one out in the 10th and advanced on Erik Pappas’ single against Blas Minor (4-2).

Smith beat right fielder Orlando Merced’s throw to the plate on Brewer’s short fly ball.

The Cardinals had gone ahead, 3-2, in the ninth against reliever Stan Belinda.

But Smith, who gave up two tying homers in the Cardinals’ 10-8, 10-inning victory Friday, blew his fourth save in 16 opportunities when Young hit his third homer.

The Pirates had a chance to win after pinch-hitter Tom Foley hit a triple, but Smith (2-1) retired the next three batters.

Philadelphia 14, Montreal 7--Darren Daulton drove in four runs to help the Phillies past the Expos at Philadelphia.

Terry Mulholland (5-4) gave up four runs--three unearned--and two hits in five innings, leaving after being hit on the foot by a line drive.

The Expos took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Marquis Grissom’s run-scoring ground out. But rookie Gil Heredia (1-1) did not get an out in the bottom of the inning as the Phillies scored five runs.

Houston 9, San Diego 7--Craig Biggio had two homers among his four hits and drove in three runs at San Diego as the Astros ended a five-game losing streak.

Jeff Bagwell added three hits and two runs batted in to help Greg Swindell (5-4).

The Astros scored six runs in the first two innings against Dave Eiland (0-3).

Florida 4, Chicago 2--Jack Armstrong pitched seven innings, drove in two runs and scored once to lead the Marlins at Miami.

Armstrong lined a two-out, bases-loaded single against Frank Castillo (0-2) to put Florida ahead, 2-1, in the second inning. Armstrong also had a single and scored in the Marlins’ two-run seventh.

Armstrong (4-4) struck out six.

Atlanta 2, New York 1--Steve Avery gave up two hits in eight innings to lead the Braves at New York. Avery (4-2) gave up a one-out single to Charlie O’Brien in the first inning and Bobby Bonilla’s leadoff infield single in the eighth.

Bret Saberhagen (3-5) gave up the two runs and seven hits.

San Francisco 3, Cincinnati 2--Reliever Greg Cadaret walked pinch-hitter Todd Benzinger with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Giants the victory at San Francisco.

Robby Thompson extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a single in the ninth against reliever Bill Landrum (0-2) and moved to second on Will Clark’s sacrifice. Walks to Matt Williams and Barry Bonds set the stage for Benzinger’s game-winning walk on a 3-1 pitch.

Mike Jackson (3-1) worked one inning for the victory.