NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : It’s Strawberry’s Night, but Mets’ Victory

Like always, Darryl Strawberry played the crowd at Shea Stadium like a violin. Many cheered, more booed and, of course, there was the “Dar-ryl, Dar-ryl” chant that used to echo through the eight seasons of nights that he was a New York Met.

They hollered when he made a home run-robbing catch and hit a run-scoring single. They hooted when he was called out on strikes. They hoped for more when he was left on deck to end the game.

Strawberry’s debut for the San Francisco Giants at his former home was an event--and a 6-3 loss to the Mets.

“One thing I’ll never forget is New York,” Strawberry said. “I mean, it’s memories here. This is where I had all my success in baseball.”

The Mets’ all-time leader in home runs, RBIs and controversy went one for two with two walks. Never known for his defense, Strawberry made the play of the game in the third inning, reaching far above the right field fence to steal a two-run homer from David Segui.

Jeff Kent hit a grand slam in the first inning, and the Mets never trailed. Barry Bonds hit his seventh homer in as many games and his 30th of the season--the fourth season in a row he has done so. He also had a double for the Giants, who are 10-2 since Strawberry joined them.

St. Louis 5-3, Atlanta 0-2--Rick Sutcliffe (6-4) and two relievers combined on a four-hitter at St. Louis as the Cardinals completed their first doubleheader sweep in nearly five years.

In the opener, fill-in starter Tom Urbani gave up only five singles in 8 1/3 innings and Todd Zeile tied his personal best with four RBIs for the Cardinals.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself last year and the beginning of this year, and it was like every time I went out there I had the weight of the world on me,” Urbani said.

“I had nothing to lose and went out to have fun and whatever happens, happens.”

Manager Joe Torre said he hoped the game would jump-start Zeile, who has struggled all year.

“Hopefully, this is it,” Torre said.

The Braves, who have lost five of their last six, fell from a tie for the NL East lead to 1 1/2 games behind Montreal.

Pittsburgh 4, Houston 1--Orlando Merced hit a three-run home run off the right-field foul pole in the seventh inning for the Pirates at Houston.

Ravelo Manzanillo (4-2) gave up one hit in 1 1/3 innings of relief, and Mike Dyer worked the ninth for his fourth save.

Chicago 7, Cincinnati 6--Mark Grace hit a go-ahead home run in the seventh inning and Sammy Sosa hit a two-run homer at Chicago as the Cubs won their fourth game in a row.

With the score 6-6, Scott Service (0-1) relieved to start the seventh and Grace hit his fourth homer.

Sosa had tied the score, 4-4, with a two-out, two-run homer in the fifth inning, his 24th. He has homered in three consecutive games.

Florida 4, Colorado 0--Pat Rapp (6-5) pitched a three-hitter for his first major league shutout, leading the Marlins at Denver.

The Rockies are 2-8 against the Marlins. Colorado lost its fourth in a row.

Losing pitcher Lance Painter (3-4) gave up two first-inning runs on a homer by Jerry Browne and Jeff Conine’s 400-foot run-scoring single.

Phillies 4, Padres 3--Bobby Munoz (6-3) won for the sixth time in seven decisions, helping the Phillies hand the Padres their fourth loss in a row in the first game of a doubleheader at Philadelphia.

The second game was delayed because of rain with the score tied, 4-4, in the sixth inning.

Munoz (6-3) gave up 12 hits in 6 1/3 innings and Doug Jones got his 25th save.