NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Johnson Tells Reds: Don’t Take So Long

Manager Davey Johnson will take winning, but he has had enough of doing it the hard way. The way the Cincinnati Reds are going, he’s a candidate for another antacid commercial.

Johnson lectured his players after they scored six eighth-inning runs Saturday night to beat the New York Mets, 8-5. It was their 15th come-from-behind victory of the season, and at least one too many for Johnson.

“I had a few words for them in the clubhouse,” an irritated Johnson said. “I said, ‘If you’re going to do it late, you can do it early.’ We go out too laid back, like we’re waiting for something to happen. I can’t figure it out.

“If they’re not agitated, I am. This is a good club. It works hard. It just doesn’t have the enthusiasm early as we do late.”

Ryan Thompson and Joe Orsulak each drove in two runs to help New York build a 5-2 lead in the eighth inning. But a throwing error by reliever Josias Manzanillo on a double-play ball set up the rally that included a two-run double by Eddie Taubensee, who had only two RBIs all season.

It was only the fourth victory in 14 games for the Reds.

St. Louis 2, San Francisco 1--Ray Lankford homered on Mike Jackson’s first pitch in the ninth inning to give the Cardinals a victory at St. Louis.

Jackson (3-2) pitched a hitless eighth before surrendering Lankford’s 12th homer, which sent the Giants to their fifth consecutive loss.

The Giants have dropped 12 of their last 16 and have scored only 17 runs in their last eight games.

Houston 5, Philadelphia 1--Doug Drabek pitched a five-hitter for his eighth victory in his last nine decisions, leading the Astros at Houston.

Drabek (8-2), who moved within one victory of his 1993 total, struck out three and walked three in his fourth complete game. The Astros won for the seventh time in their last nine games.

Florida 4, San Diego 3--Jeff Conine singled home Chuck Carr with one out in the 10th inning as the Marlins won at Miami.

Conine had tripled in the ninth and scored the tying run on a single by Greg Colbrunn, who had three RBIs.

In the 10th, Carr led off with a single and advanced to second on Jerry Browne’s infield hit. Matias Carrillo flied out before Conine singled off former Marlin reliever Trevor Hoffman (2-2).

Yorkis Perez (1-0) got two outs for the victory.

Montreal 6, Chicago 1--The Expos got home runs from Larry Walker and Wil Cordero after Marquis Grissom led off the game with a homer in dealing the Cubs their fifth consecutive loss in Chicago.

Walker also had his NL-leading 26th double and scored three runs.

Pedro Martinez (4-3) gave up one run and seven hits in seven innings for Montreal. He struck out six and walked two. Mel Rojas pitched the final 1 2/3 innings.

Pittsburgh 4, Colorado 3--Kevin Young hit a bases-loaded triple in the sixth inning at Denver, helping the Pirates snap a season-high, five-game losing streak.

The victory stopped Colorado’s winning streak at four games.

Young was hitting .200 when he drove in three runs with a shot high off the center-field wall.