NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Sheffield Provides Immediate Impact

Gary Sheffield provided an immediate boost in his first game with the Florida Marlins, getting two hits in a 3-1 victory over the Montreal Expos at Miami on Friday.

Jack Armstrong (5-8) took a one-hitter into the eighth inning, and Bryan Harvey got the final six outs for his 22nd save.

The Marlins, who rank last in the National League in runs, scored twice in the first inning thanks to two newcomers. Rookie Darrell Whitmore--batting third--tripled home a run in his first major league at-bat, then scored on cleanup hitter Sheffield’s single.

“That sends chills up your body,” Sheffield said. “I wanted to have a man in scoring position and drive him in and show the people that’s what I can do.”

Whitmore, called up Thursday from triple-A Edmonton, doubled in the sixth and scored on Jeff Conine’s single.

Sheffield, obtained Thursday in a trade with San Diego, and Whitmore each went two for four with one run batted in. The other Marlins had only one hit.

“If we hadn’t had them tonight, we probably would have lost, 1-0,” Manager Rene Lachemann said.

St. Louis 8, New York 5--The Mets tied an 86-year-old National League record at New York, having gone 61 games without winning two in a row.

The Mets will set the NL record, established in 1907 by the Cardinals, today against St. Louis. New York last won two games in a row on April 16-17 at Cincinnati.

Erik Pappas drove in three runs for St. Louis, two in a five-run seventh inning, and Bernard Gilkey added three runs on a solo homer and two doubles.

The Mets (21-50) have lost nine of their last 10 games.

Bret Saberhagen (3-7), in losing his fourth consecutive decision, gave up seven runs in 6 1/3 innings. He has gone seven starts without a victory, the last coming on May 10 against Florida. His only victories are against Florida and Colorado.

Cincinnati 6, San Diego 2--Kevin Mitchell continued to pound the Padres, hitting a three-run homer in the third inning to extend his career-best hitting streak to 19 games to lead the Reds at San Diego.

Mitchell’s streak is the longest in the major leagues. The Reds are 6-0 against San Diego this year, and Mitchell has gone 11 for 21 (.524) with three homers in those games. Tim Belcher (6-5) pitched a four-hitter for his fourth complete game and fifth victory in six decisions.

Padre starter Wally Whitehurst (2-4) struck out the first two in the third, but had to leave after being hit on the outside of his right knee by Barry Larkin’s one-hopper. Reliever Tim Worrell, making his major league debut, walked Hal Morris, and Mitchell hit the first pitch over the fence in left-center for his 11th homer.

Philadelphia 8, Pittsburgh 6--Ruben Amaro, hitless entering the game, hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth for his fourth consecutive hit, helping the Phillies rally from four runs down at Pittsburgh.

The Phillies, losers of 18 of their previous 21 in Pittsburgh, scored three times in the eighth after trailing, 6-3. The rally against four Pirate relievers got nine-game winner Tommy Greene off the hook after he was knocked out in the third inning.

Amaro, called up from the minors a week ago, homered to left field against John Candelaria to score Len Dykstra.

Atlanta 8, Houston 2--Steve Avery pitched six strong innings to extend his winning streak to eight games, and the Braves capitalized on three Astro errors in a five-run third inning at Atlanta.

Avery (9-2) hasn’t lost since April 22, and the Braves haven’t lost in the left-hander’s last 11 starts. He gave up six hits, walked two and struck out three.

Houston starter Pete Harnisch (6-5), who lost his third decision in a row, was victimized by his defense in the second inning as the Braves sent 10 to the plate. Jose Uribe, Craig Biggio and Chris James all made errors that led to runs.

San Francisco 7, Colorado 2--Willie McGee drove in three runs and Mike Benjamin hit a two-run homer, leading the Giants at San Francisco.

The Giants, who have won nine of their last 10 games and 15 of their last 18, scored all of their runs in the first four innings.

McGee’s two-run single in the first scored Darren Lewis and Robby Thompson to give San Francisco a 2-0 lead against loser Butch Henry (2-7). The Giants scored three more in the second inning and once each in the third and fourth.

Starter Bryan Hickerson (1-1) was the winner and Rod Beck, the fourth Giant pitcher, got the last three outs.