NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Cubs Gum Up the Works at Wrigley Again, Make It Dirty Dozen

The Chicago Cubs have tried almost everything--changing uniforms, holding chats with fans, juggling the batting order. Still, they can’t win at home in 1994.

They broke a 92-year-old club record by losing their 12th consecutive home game, falling to the Cincinnati Reds, 5-2, Tuesday as Tony Fernandez and Hal Morris drove in two runs apiece.

The previous record was set in 1902, when the Cubs played at West Side Grounds. The previous Wrigley Field record was 10. The NL mark is 14 by the 1911 Boston Braves.

“You have to think about the (NL) record,” said Cubs manager Tom Trebelhorn. “It’s getting urgent for all of us.”

The Cub starting pitcher failed again, dropping to 4-14 this season. Mike Morgan (0-4) gave up four runs and seven hits in four innings, struck out three and walked one.

Florida 6, Atlanta 3: Chuck Carr had the Marlins’ first five-hit game and Florida moved two games above .500 for the first time in their two-year history with a 6-3 victory over the Braves.

It was the Braves’ fourth consecutive loss and ninth in 11 games, their worst skid since April 13-24, 1992, when they also dropped nine of 11.

Charlie Hough (3-0) limited the Braves to four hits over six innings before giving up a two-run homer to Charlie O’Brien in the seventh. He gave up three runs and six hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out five in seven innings.

Hough, 46, in his 24th major league season, last beat the Braves on Sept. 17, 1979, when he was with the Dodgers.

San Francisco 6, New York 5--A ninth-inning sacrifice fly by Barry Bonds gave the Giants the victory at New York.

The Giants scored two runs in the ninth against John Franco (0-1), who blew a save for the first time in seven opportunities.

Pinch-hitter Joe Orsulak hit a grand slam in the seventh inning to give the Mets a 5-4 lead.

Dave Martinez singled to open the ninth and Jeff Reed, pinch-hitting for Mike Jackson (2-0), singled to put runners at first and third. Darren Lewis hit an infield grounder to score Martinez and tie the score at 5-5.

Robby Thompson was then safe on second baseman Fernando Vina’s error, and Matt Williams drew a walk to load the bases for Bonds. Bonds hit a drive to the wall in right that was grabbed over the wall by Jeromy Burnitz, robbing Bonds of a grand slam.

San Diego 8, Philadelphia 3--A.J. Sager earned his first major league victory and Tony Gwynn hit a home run at Philadelphia, helping the Padres end a five-game losing streak.

Sager (1-2) relieved starter Pedro Martinez in the third and shut out the Phillies on two hits for 4 2/3 innings. He walked none and struck out three.

Houston 7, Pittsburgh 4--Doug Drabek survived a bullpen scare to win at Pittsburgh for the first time since leaving the Pirates, getting help from Andujar Cedeno, who hit a two-run homer.

Drabek (3-1), who left the Pirates and signed with the Astros before the 1993 season, won his third consecutive decision.

Drabek left with a 6-2 lead after giving up eight hits in seven innings. The Pirates scored twice in the eighth against Mike Hampton on run-scoring singles by Orlando Merced and pinch-hitter Lloyd McClendon. Tom Edens worked out of bases-loaded, one-out jam with the go-ahead run on base by retiring Carlos Garcia and Jay Bell.

Mitch Williams, who blew a save in his last appearance, pitched the ninth for his fourth save.

Colorado 10, St. Louis 1--Charlie Hayes hit a three-run homer through a heavy rainstorm and Armando Reynoso limited the Cardinals to five hits at Denver.