NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Mets’ Young Sets Wrong Kind of Record in Loss

Anthony Young now has a place in the New York Met record book--the wrong place.

Young lost his 20th consecutive decision to set a Mets club record as Mike Morgan pitched six-hit ball over 8 2/3 innings to help the Chicago Cubs beat the Mets, 5-1, Tuesday night at New York.

Young (0-6) had been tied with Craig Anderson (1962-1964) for most consecutive losses by a Met pitcher. The all-time record is 23 by Cliff Curtis of the 1910-1911 Boston Braves.

“I can’t think about the losing streak,” Young said. “If you don’t have your good stuff you have to battle. Today, I didn’t have good stuff. I had no location on my fastball.”

Morgan (4-7) retired 13 consecutive batters until Joe Orsulak and Howard Johnson hit consecutive singles in the fifth inning before a double play ended the threat.

Young, 2-14 last season, pitched six innings and gave up four runs and nine hits. It was his first loss as a starter this year. Young’s last victory was April 19, 1992, against Montreal.

St. Louis 4, San Francisco 3--Lee Smith’s 371st career save didn’t come easy.

The major league’s all-time save leader gave up four ninth-inning hits, including Barry Bonds’ two-run homer, but came back to record the final out as the Cardinals beat the Giants at Candlestick Park.

Smith was the last of four Cardinal pitchers, preserved the victory for Rene Arocha (5-0). Arocha became the first Cardinal rookie to start his career 5-0 since Joe Magrane did it in 1987.

John Burkett (8-2), who failed in his bid to become the major league’s first nine-game winner, took a three-hitter into the eighth.

Montreal 4, Cincinnati 2--Marquis Grissom had two hits, stole three bases and scored two runs as the Expos won at Montreal.

Dennis Martinez (5-5) won his third consecutive decision, giving up two runs and seven hits in 7 1/3 innings en route to his 198th career victory. John Wetteland earned his 11th save.

Houston 6, Philadelphia 3--Eric Anthony hit a two-run triple in the first inning at Philadelphia and the Astros won a game delayed 1 hour 51 minutes because of rain.

Darryl Kile (5-1) gave up six hits, struck out five, walked two and hit two batters in 5 1/3 innings as he won his third consecutive decision.

Colorado 4, Pittsburgh 1--Andres Galarraga continued swinging the hottest bat in the majors by going two for three with a homer and a triple, leading the Rockies at Pittsburgh.

Galarraga is 18 for 31, with three homers and eight runs RBIs during his eight-game hitting streak.

Bruce Ruffin and Keith Shepherd combined on a four-hitter.

San Diego 5, Atlanta 4--Pinch-hitter Craig Shipley delivered a two-out, bases-loaded single to score the game-winning run in the ninth inning as the Padres rallied from a four-run deficit at San Diego.

Reliever Mike Stanton (1-2) loaded the bases on two singles and an intentional walk before Shipley hit a soft single to end the Padres’ four-game losing streak. Stanton gave up four hits and two runs in 1 2/3 innings.

Gene Harris (4-0) worked a perfect ninth inning for the victory after the Padres scored four runs in the eighth.