NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Replacement Player Proves He Belongs

Pitcher Rick Reed of the Cincinnati Reds didn’t win the game or lose the label of replacement player, but he proved he belongs.

Reed held Chicago hitless into the seventh inning, and Ron Gant hit a two-run homer in the eighth to lead the Reds to a 4-3 victory Saturday night over the reeling Cubs at Cincinnati.

One night after they blocked out a stunning eight-player trade that sent Deion Sanders to the San Francisco Giants, the Reds had to push aside lingering resentment and pull behind a former replacement player.

The Reds made several sensational defensive plays to help Reed take a no-hitter into the seventh, then rallied when he let the lead slip away. Hal Morris, the team’s union representative, hit a solo homer to tie it in the seventh, and Gant hit a two-out homer--his 21st--to send the Cubs to a season-high sixth consecutive loss.

“That was a big load off my shoulders,” said Reed, a 30-year-old journeyman who was supposed to be the opening-day starter in replacement ball. “I was thinking about it the whole day: I’ve got to go out and do a good job and show these guys I deserve to be there.

“They played as hard behind me as they would for anybody else. I felt a part of the team.”

Reed, called up Friday, wound up with a no-decision after giving up three hits and two runs--only one earned--in the seventh.

Mark Grace ended the no-hitter with one out by hitting a sinking liner that deflected off the glove of shortstop Barry Larkin for an infield single. One out later, Todd Zeile doubled to tie the game 1-1. Luis Gonzalez followed with an infield single to third baseman Jeff Branson, whose rushed throw to first was wild for an error that let Zeile score for a 2-1 lead.

Morris bailed out Reed by hitting a two-out homer, his fourth, off Frank Castillo to tie it with two out in the seventh.

Reed was called up to help the team through the loss of starter Jose Rijo, sidelined indefinitely because of a sore elbow. His performance won him a spot on the team, if not in all of his teammates’ hearts.

“Magnificent,” Manager Davey Johnson said. “Anybody who throws a no-hitter for six innings, I’d say they have a future. He won everybody’s hearts.”

Not exactly. Bret Boone, the team’s alternate union representative, admitted after the game that all is not forgotten.

Reds players had a closed-door meeting two weeks ago when the Reds started seriously considering a promotion for Reed, but decided not to make an issue of it.

Colorado 5, New York 4--Vinny Castilla hit two home runs and scored the game-winning run in the eighth inning as the Rockies defeated the Mets at Denver.

Castilla led off the eighth with a single off Doug Henry (1-4), moved to second on a passed ball and scored on a one-out, line-drive single to center by Jason Bates.

Houston 7, San Francisco 6--Jeff Bagwell drove in five runs with a three-run homer and two-run single and Mike Hampton got his fifth consecutive victory as the Astros defeated the Giants at Houston.

Atlanta 3, San Diego 2--Javier Lopez snapped a tie with an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Braves beat the Padres at Atlanta.

Pittsburgh 7, Montreal 1--Steve Parris won his third consecutive start and had a pair of doubles, one of which drove in two runs, as the Pirates beat the Expos at Pittsburgh.

St. Louis 5, Philadelphia 3--Pinch-hitter Gerald Perry broke a tie with an RBI single in the 11th inning and the Cardinals went on to beat the Phillies at Philadelphia.