NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Stadium Catches Fire, Then McGriff Sparks Braves’ Big Rally, 8-5

A fire at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium 90 minutes before game time Tuesday night overshadowed the Brave debut of Fred McGriff, whose homer helped Atlanta beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 8-5.

The Braves came back from a 5-0 deficit in the sixth inning and tied the score on Jeff Blauser’s three-run home run and McGriff’s two-run blast.

David Justice scored the go-ahead run in the eighth from second when Rheal Cormier (5-6) bobbled Terry Pendleton’s sacrifice bunt and threw wildly to first. Justice had opened the inning with a single and took second when right fielder Mark Whiten fumbled the ball.

The Braves added two more runs in the inning on Deion Sanders’ run-scoring single. Mark Wohlers (4-0) earned the victory with one scoreless inning of relief and Mike Stanton pitched a perfect ninth for his 26th save.

The game was delayed for 1 hour 58 minutes as firefighters put out a blaze that began in a mezzanine box and spread to several others adjacent to the press box. One firefighter was overcome by smoke inhalation. No other injuries were reported.

The crowd, announced at 49,072, but closer to 35,000, was brought to its feet in the sixth when McGriff hit a two-run homer--his 19th of the season--off St. Louis starter Rene Arocha.

“With the fire and driving from Tampa--what a day--I need some sleep,” said McGriff, who had arrived in Atlanta earlier in the day after driving from his home in Florida.

McGriff, at first, didn’t think his drive was going to reach the center-field seats.

“I saw (Brian) Jordan keep going back and back like he was going to catch it, and I said ‘Oh, no.’ ”

Cincinnati 8, Chicago 3--For the last two weeks, Tim Belcher has been able to block out the rumors and keep winning. He led the Reds at Cincinnati, ending the Cubs’ five-game winning streak.

Belcher (9-5) gave up seven hits and three runs in 6 1/3 innings to win for the eighth time in his last nine decisions. But he was a little disappointed he couldn’t make it past the seventh, when the Cubs scored twice to knock him out.

He wondered whether his lack of concentration was because he was pitching with a 7-1 lead, or the uncertainty of where he would be pitching in a few weeks. Belcher leads the team in wins and hasn’t lost since June 20, but his earned-run average has climbed to 4.16.

Pittsburgh 2, Houston 1--Different year, different uniform, same old script. Doug Drabek pitches well and the Pirates win.

There’s only one difference--Drabek now pitches for Houston. He pitched one of his best games of the season, but former teammate Randy Tomlin was even better, throwing a four-hitter as the Pirates beat the Astros at Pittsburgh.

The loss was the third consecutive overall and fourth in a row on the road for Drabek (7-11).

Colorado 6, Florida 3--Andres Galarraga hit a 455-foot home run and Dante Bichette added a three-run homer to help the Rockies beat the Marlins at Miami.

Colorado broke a five-game losing streak and clinched the season series against its expansion rival. The Rockies lead, 7-4, with one game remaining today.

Galarraga hit the longest homer at Joe Robbie Stadium, a two-run shot over the scoreboard in left field.

San Francisco 8, Montreal 3--It was a case where Darren Lewis’ accomplishments were overshadowed by Dennis Martinez’s future.

Lewis hit a two-run homer, had three hits and scored four runs as the Giants beat the Expos at San Francisco. Afterward, Martinez spoke about rumors that have his time as an Expo growing short.

He said he would like the Expos to put the trade matter to rest soon so he can get back to his game.

Martinez (10-7) pitched 5 1/3 innings, gave up nine hits and seven runs in the Expos’ third consecutive loss.

San Diego 4, New York 1--Greg Harris pitched a four-hitter and rookie Jeff Gardner had three hits as the Padres won at San Diego, stopping the Mets’ season-high three-game winning streak.

Gardner led off the first inning with his first major league home run, tripled and singled. Harris (10-9) set a career high for victories, striking out five and walking two. Dave Telgheder (3-2) gave up four runs in five innings.