NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : It’s in Cards for Daulton, Phillies

Darren Daulton called it the power of positive thinking, but the power of the Philadelphia Phillies had something to do with it.

Daulton drove in six runs, four with a grand slam, and Dave Hollins hit a two-run triple in the seventh inning to lead the Phillies past the St. Louis Cardinals, 14-6, Wednesday night at Philadelphia.

The victory moved the Phillies six games ahead of the Cardinals in the National League East.

“I had a feeling,” Daulton said. “I don’t know why. I thought we’d be in the game all the way. I guess it was the power of positive thinking.”

The Phillies trailed, 4-0, in the first inning against Bob Tewksbury after Todd Zeile hit a grand slam off starter Terry Mulholland (10-8). But Philadelphia tied it in the third with five hits.

“I came into the dugout after the inning and told Mulholland, ‘Keep us in the game. We’re going to win. We’re going to hit this guy,’ ” Daulton said.

Mulholland hit a one-out single in the third inning and reached third on Len Dykstra’s double. Mariano Duncan delivered a two-run single and after Hollins singled, both scored on Daulton’s triple.

The Phillies took a 5-4 lead in the fifth when Dykstra doubled, advanced to third on a sacrifice and scored on Hollins’ sacrifice fly.

In the seventh, Duncan and John Kruk singled and Hollins tripled for a 7-6 Phillie lead.

Atlanta 3, Colorado 2--Ron Gant broke an eighth-inning tie with a solo home run as the Braves won at Denver.

Atlanta is 10-0 against Colorado. The victory, the Braves’ sixth in a row, moved them within seven games of first-place San Francisco in the National League West.

Gant hit his 24th homer in the eighth off loser Steve Reed (5-4).

Mark Wohlers (5-0) pitched two innings for the victory, and Greg McMichael got the final three outs for his first major league save.

Pittsburgh 3, Montreal 2--Al Martin beat out an infield single with two out and the bases loaded in the ninth inning to give the Pirates a victory at Pittsburgh.

Don Slaught opened the ninth with a double off Jeff Shaw (1-7). After John Wehner grounded out, Lonnie Smith was walked intentionally and Tim Scott relieved.

Carlos Garcia popped out to first before Jay Bell walked to load the bases. Martin then hit a chopper to first, where Derrick White fielded and tossed to Scott, but Martin beat Scott to the bag.

Houston 4, Cincinnati 2--Craig Biggio and Luis Gonzalez drove in two runs each and Mark Portugal won his third consecutive game as the Astros won at Houston.

Portugal (9-4) gave up 12 hits, struck out seven and did not walk a batter before leaving with two out in the seventh. Xavier Hernandez pitched the final 2 1/3 innings for his fifth save.

Portugal lost his shutout in the sixth by giving up consecutive singles to Kevin Mitchell, Chris Sabo and Reggie Sanders, followed by an error by right fielder Eric Anthony.

Chicago 8, San Diego 6--Kevin Roberson’s three-run homer highlighted a five-run sixth inning as the Cubs won at Chicago.

Roberson’s fifth home run of the season, into the right-field bleachers, gave the Cubs an 8-4 lead.