NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : After Being Down, Even Fourth Is Up for Phillies

It was a small thing, given that much of the season remains, but it was important when you consider where the Philadelphia Phillies had been.

Like in the World Series last season.

And in last place since April 23.

It was a baby step, and it took nine victories in their last 11 games, but when the Phillies beat the Cardinals, 11-3, Monday night in St. Louis, they climbed over the New York Mets and out of last place in the National League East.

“It’s going to be a grind, but we’re going to try and get back in this thing,” said Darren Daulton, who homered and had three RBIs for the Phillies.

Their lead over the idle Mets is only percentage points.

Philadelphia also put an end to the Cardinals’ season-high five-game winning streak.

“We stunk,” said Cardinal Manager Joe Torre, who wasn’t around that long. He was ejected in the sixth inning for arguing a call at third base.

Danny Jackson pitched eight solid innings, Lenny Dykstra reached base five times and Ricky Jordan also had three RBIs for the Phillies. Dykstra had three singles, two walks, two stolen bases, three runs scored and an RBI. He is eight for 14 in his last four games.

Jackson (6-1) has four victories and three complete games in his last five starts. He allowed three runs and 10 hits in eight innings.

He also doubled and singled in four at-bats, making him five for 10 in the last three games.

Tom Urbani (1-4) lasted four innings, giving up seven runs--six earned--and nine hits.

Florida 3, Montreal 2--Pat Rapp allowed one earned run and Jesus Tavarez made a memorable major-league debut to help the Marlins win at Miami.

Tavarez, a 23-year-old right fielder recalled Sunday from double-A Portland, Maine, threw out a runner at the plate, scored from first base on a single and went two for four with an RBI.

Rapp (3-1) gave up seven hits and two walks in 6 2/3 innings and has a lifetime earned-run average of 1.33 in five games against Montreal. Rapp also got his first two hits of the season.

Robb Nen pitched two innings for his second save.

Playing without three starters because of injuries, the Marlins still managed to snap a three-game losing streak.

Colorado 8, Cincinnati 3--Dante Bichette’s three-run homer in the first inning at Denver enabled the Rockies to end a five-game losing streak.

Charlie Hayes had three hits and the Rockies had a season-high 17 in handing the Reds their third consecutive loss.

Colorado scored three quick runs off John Smiley (4-5), who also surrendered another run in the third inning and was chased in the sixth by hits by Hayes and Joe Girardi. It was Smiley’s third loss in a row.

Marvin Freeman (4-1) was the beneficiary of the offense.

San Diego 4, San Francisco 0--Rookie Luis Lopez hit a grand slam in the first inning for his first major-league homer and Wally Whitehurst pitched 8 1/3 shutout innings for the Padres at San Diego.

The Giants, shut out for the first time this season, have lost five games in a row and seven of their last eight.

Whitehurst (3-5) came within two outs of his first shutout. He carried a four-hitter into the ninth inning before giving up two hits and was replaced by Pedro Martinez, who promptly walked Jeff Reed to load the bases.

Trevor Hoffman came on and struck out pinch-hitters Dave Martinez and Erik Johnson for his fifth save.