NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Davey Johnson Gets Homecoming Victory

For Cincinnati Red Manager Davey Johnson, it was a game to remember. For Met pitcher Anthony Young, it was another one to forget.

Young tied a team record with his 19th consecutive loss, and the Reds made Johnson’s return to Shea Stadium a success Friday night with a 5-2 victory over New York in 10 innings.

“Winning was important to me tonight because I won a lot of games here,” said Johnson, the winningest manager in Mets’ history. “I wanted to come in here and win. I wanted to get the first one out of the way.”

Young also would like to get a victory.

Young (0-5) relieved Dwight Gooden to start the 10th, and an error by third baseman Howard Johnson set up three runs.

Young’s losing streak is the longest in the majors since Craig Anderson set the Mets’ record by dropping the last 19 decisions of his career from 1962-64. The major league record for consecutive losses is 23 by Cliff Curtis of the Boston Braves from 1910-11.

“I’m throwing the ball well, making good pitches, unfortunately things ain’t going my way,” Young said. “I’m angry now, but I can’t do anything about it.”

Barry Larkin began the 10th by reaching on Johnson’s misplay and Chris Sabo reached on a bunt single that Young fumbled. That led to Cecil Espy’s double that scored Larkin and pinch-hitter Juan Samuel’s two-run single against Paul Gibson.

The Reds gave Johnson another victory in New York, and gave Cincinnati a three-game winning streak. They are 3-1 since he replaced Tony Perez last Monday.

Johnson guided the Mets to a 595-417 record in 6 1/4 seasons, and led them to the 1986 World Series championship. He was fired by the Mets in May, 1990.

Atlanta 7, San Francisco 4-- Ron Gant drove in five runs with a three-run homer and two-run double as the Braves won at Atlanta.

Gant homered in the third inning, his 11th, and added his two-run double in the fifth. Gant had a four-hit game for the sixth time in his career.

David Justice hit his 12th homer in the first with one man on base.

St. Louis 3, San Diego 2--Pinch-hitter Mark Whiten’s two-run single capped a three-run, eighth-inning rally as the Cardinals busted out of a batting slump to win at St. Louis.

Andy Benes had a shutout going and was within five outs of becoming the National League’s first eight-game winner before the Cardinals scored for the first time in 20 innings.

Philadelphia 15, Colorado 9--Darren Daulton and Wes Chamberlain each hit home runs as the Phillies got 20 hits at Denver.

The Phillies, with the best record in the majors, set a season-high in hits and runs en route to beating the Rockies, who at 14-34 have the worst record in the majors.

Daulton had two hits and drove in four runs.

Florida 5, Houston 4--Chuck Carr beat out an infield single to score Jeff Conine from third base with two out in the 12th inning as the Marlins edged the Astros at Miami.

The Marlins overcame a 4-0 deficit, three Houston homers and four rain delays.

Conine walked against Tom Edens (0-1) to lead off the 12th, was sacrificed to second and took third on a groundout. Carr dribbled a grounder to second baseman Craig Biggio, who charged the ball and tried to make a barehanded play, but failed.

Montreal 2, Chicago 2--The game, which ended in a tie after five innings because of rain, will be replayed in its entirety as part of a doubleheader on Aug. 17 at Wrigley Field.