NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Cubs Close Met Opener by Turning the Tables

The Mets opened in Chicago with a three-game sweep last week and came home Monday for their Shea Stadium opener ready to begin another against the Cubs.

Steve Buechele made certain that wouldn’t happen.

He drove in four runs with a double and homer as Chicago returned the favor, ruining New York’s home opener with a 9-5 victory.

Buechele doubled home Chicago’s first run in the second inning against Bobby Jones (1-1) and then hit a three-run homer off Dave Telgheder to highlight a six-run third.

Both times, he took advantage when the Met pitchers fell behind on the count.

“On the double and the homer, the count was in my favor,” Buechele said. “Both pitchers got the ball over the middle of the plate. As a hitter, you’ve got to take advantage of that.”

Willie Banks (1-1), beaten by the Mets in their three-game sweep last week in Chicago, earned his first National League victory, allowing six hits in six innings. Banks, who pitched for Minnesota last year, struck out five and walked four.

He was helped by a feeling of nervousness by young Mets playing at home.

“Their actions were a little faster than usual,” New York Manager Dallas Green said. “They were trying to do things because it was the first game back home, not because it was a baseball game. We’re still learning how to handle the major leagues and how to handle playing in New York.”

Youth kept the Mets coming. They loaded the bases in the ninth inning against relievers Dan Plesac and Randy Myers before David Segui, who had three hits, struck out to end the game.

Colorado 8, Philadelphia 7--On a day the fans cheered loud and long for John Kruk, Dante Bichette silenced them with one swing.

Bichette hit his fifth homer of the season, a two-run shot in the eighth inning that gave the Rockies a victory and spoiled the Phillies’ home opener.

Kruk, activated only six hours after undergoing radiation treatment for testicular cancer, got three hits and came up with the tying run on second in the ninth inning with one out, but looked at strike three.

Cincinnati 9, Montreal 4--Thomas Howard hit a go-ahead single in the five-run 11th inning as the Reds extended their winning streak to five games, winning at Montreal.

Jacob Brumfield doubled with one out in the 11th off Gil Heredia (0-1) but was trapped off second base. Brumfield advanced when shortstop Mike Lansing made a bad relay to third baseman Sean Berry for an error.

Howard singled and scored on Lenny Harris’ double for a 6-4 lead. Jeff Branson hit a run-scoring single and Brian Dorsett hit a two-run homer.

Rookie Hector Carrasco (3-0) pitched two innings of relief to win for the Reds.