NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : This Time, Blauser Rescues Braves, 3-2

Fortunately for the Atlanta Braves, Jeff Blauser got another chance--something the San Francisco Giants may be running running out of.

Blauser’s single behind first base in the 12th inning drove in the winning run and gave the Braves a 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday night at Atlanta, the second night in a row they rallied in their torrid roll toward a third consecutive National League West title.

With the three-game sweep of the Reds, the Braves have won eight of nine and 29 of 35 to increase their lead over the idle Giants, who are on an eight-game losing streak, to four games with 15 remaining. It was the Reds’ sixth consecutive loss.

Blauser came up in the eighth inning in a 1-1 tie with one out and runners at first and third and failed to produce.

“We wouldn’t have been in the situation if I had come through when I had that opportunity in the eighth inning,” Blauser said. “Fortunately I got another chance.”

The Braves tied the score in the ninth when David Justice hit his 37th home run, a 407-foot shot over the right-field fence off reliever Jerry Spradlin.

The Braves scored five runs in the ninth inning Wednesday night, capped by Ron Gant’s three-run homer, to beat the Reds, 7-6.

The deciding hit this time wasn’t nearly as dramatic as Gant’s but was certainly as effective.

Cincinnati first baseman Hal Morris made a diving stop of Blauser’s grounder in the 12th with the bases loaded and two outs, but pitcher Scott Service (2-2) was slow getting to the bag and Bill Pecota scored with the winning run.

Montreal 4, St. Louis 3--The Expos won for the 17th time in their last 19 games to move within five games of first-place Philadelphia in the National League East.

Montreal starts a three-game series with the Phillies at home tonight.

The victory was tempered for the Expos by the loss of outfielder Moises Alou, who dislocated his left ankle and fractured his lower left leg while running the bases after he singled in the seventh inning.

Alou was a third of the way to second base when his right spike caught in the turf. Alou’s left leg then buckled.

The Expos led, 3-1, until Mark Whiten’s two-run homer in the fifth, his 25th, off starter Jeff Fassero (11-4).

The Expos scored the winning run in the sixth when Mike Lansing singled, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a sacrifice fly by Marquis Grissom.

Colorado 6, Houston 3--Jerald Clark hit a three-run homer to break an eighth-inning tie as the Rockies completed a four-game sweep of the Astros at Denver.

The Rockies trailed, 3-2, in the eighth, but Daryl Boston singled to drive in Nelson Liriano. With two outs, Andres Galarraga doubled and reliever Todd Jones (1-2) intentionally walked Charlie Hayes.

Clark then hit an 0-2 pitch over the left-center field fence for his 11th homer.

Pittsburgh 10, Florida 0--John Hope and three relievers combined on a three-hitter at Miami as the Pirates won their fourth in a row.

The Pirates’ three-game sweep was the first for an opponent at Joe Robbie Stadium.