NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Slow Start Won’t Stop for Reds

The sign in left field in Cincinnati sent a message: “Strike’s Over, Start Playing Ball!”

The Reds still haven’t received it.

The consensus pick to win the National League’s Central Division championship, Cincinnati remained the only team in baseball without a victory, dropping a 6-0 decision Tuesday to the Philadelphia Phillies and Curt Schilling.

Barry Larkin, who had one of Cincinnati’s five singles, was at a loss to explain how the Reds have tied a 1950 for franchise futility with their sixth loss in a row to start the season.

“We can’t believe we haven’t won,” Larkin said. “I think everybody is stunned.”

The Phillies can’t quite fathom it, either.

“You’d hear, ‘Geez, these guys really need a win,’ ” said Kevin Stocker, who had two hits and two runs batted in. “But one thing everybody knows is it’s still early yet. Everyone came in with the notion the Reds still have a great team.”

Schilling (1-0) made them look feeble. He allowed only three singles over seven innings, retired the last 10 in order and didn’t allow a runner past second base.

He got all the support he needed in the second inning when the first five Phillies reached base off Jose Rijo (0-2), who hadn’t given up a run in 12 spring-training innings but has allowed 14 hits and 11 runs in 9 2/3 innings since games started counting.

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Atlanta 7, Florida 1--Greg Maddux had a no-hitter in the sixth inning, grew weary and allowed successive hits to Mario Diaz, Gary Sheffield and Jeff Conine and departed, with three Braves’ relievers finishing the three-hitter.

Maddux, who missed most of spring training with chickenpox and now has a head cold, improved to 2-0 in two starts with a 1.69 ERA.

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Montreal 9, New York 6--The Expos rewarded a sellout crowd in Montreal with Moises Alou’s homer, double and three RBIs and Rondell White’s homer in a victory over the Mets.

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Houston 5, Chicago 2--Craig Biggio stopped an 0-for-19 skid with his first two hits of the season for the Astros, including an RBI single that tied the game, 2-2, at Chicago.

Biggio doubled in the ninth inning and scored on a wild pitch by Larry Casian.

Jim Dougherty (1-0) threw one pitch and got one out for the victory.

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Pittsburgh 7, St. Louis 6--Jeff King homered and drove in three runs for the Pirates, who had scored eight runs in five-plus games and were one for 31 with runners in scoring position before getting five runs in the seventh inning off Danny Jackson (0-2) in St. Louis.

Jacob Brumfield’s two-run double tied it, 4-4. Steve Pegues followed with an RBI single and two batters later King hit his first home run.

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Colorado 6, San Diego 5--Joe Girardi singled off pitcher Brian Williams’ bare hand in the 11th inning at Denver, making rookie Roger Bailey’s first major league decision a victory.

Roberto Mejia led off the 11th with a double and was sacrificed to third by Vinny Castilla. After a walk to Walt Weiss, Girardi hit a grounder that grazed the right hand of Williams (0-1) and squirted behind the mound.