NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Giants Are Swiftly Losing Their Grip

It has been almost a month since either Bill Swift or John Burkett won a game, and the San Francisco Giants are feeling the pinch.

Swift, who has been bothered by arm fatigue, squandered a three-run lead Sunday and, for his third consecutive start, was hit hard as the Giants lost, 7-6, at St. Louis.

Tom Pagnozzi’s single against Rod Beck with the bases loaded in the ninth gave the Cardinals the victory and cut the Giants’ lead over the Atlanta Braves to 2 1/2 games in the National league West.

It’s the Giants’ smallest lead since May 7.

Swift said he felt strong, but he remained stuck at 17 victories--one behind Burkett--after giving up 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings. He has failed in four attempts to gain victory No. 18 and has given up 16 earned runs in 14 1/3 innings over his last three outings.

“I felt good,” Swift said. “I felt a lot better. I just couldn’t get anybody out. I’m feeling better and not getting results.”

The Giants are starting to wonder if the Braves, who have won four in a row and 21 of 25, will ever lose.

“In the back of your mind, no matter what inning it is, you figure they have a chance to win,” Beck said.

The Cardinals scored the winning run after Dave Burba (10-3) walked Todd Zeile with one out, Bernard Gilkey followed with a ground-rule double and Mark Whiten was walked intentionally to load the bases. Beck came on and struck out pinch-hitter Erik Pappas before Pagnozzi singled to center on a 2-and-1 pitch.

Matt Williams hit his 30th home run for the Giants.

Atlanta 3, San Diego 2--David Justice hit his 36th homer, a two-run shot during the eighth, as the Braves completed a three-game sweep at Atlanta.

Justice’s homer to right field against Pedro Martinez (3-1) followed a walk to Fred McGriff. Justice drove in six runs during the series and has 20 RBIs in his last 14 games, giving him 102 for the season. Justice has reached 100 RBIs faster than any Brave since Hank Aaron did in on Aug. 12, 1970. Aaron finished with 118 RBIs.

Greg Maddux (17-9) won his fifth consecutive start and has lost only once in his last 11 decisions. The right-hander gave up six hits, walked four and struck out seven in getting his league-leading eighth complete game.

Philadelphia 5, Cincinnati 3--The Phillies had 10 hits and scored four runs against Tim Pugh (8-14) in three-plus innings, then held on for the victory at Cincinnati.

Curt Schilling (12-6) held the Reds to four hits over five innings, but gave up a two-run homer to Chris Sabo in the sixth.

Houston 7, Montreal 1--Mark Portugal (14-4) gave up five hits in eight innings at Houston to extend his personal winning streak to eight games and end the Expos’ nine-game winning streak.

Chicago 2, New York 1--Pinch-hitter Glenallen Hill’s two-run homer against John Franco (3-2) with one out in the ninth gave the Cubs the victory at Chicago.

The loss was the 90th for the last-place Mets.

Colorado 4, Pittsburgh 1--Freddie Benavides drove in three runs, including two with an eighth-inning triple, as the Rockies completed a three-game sweep at Denver.