NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Reds Don’t Celebrate After Clinching Tie

The Cincinnati Reds ended an infuriating home stand Wednesday assured of no more than a share of the NL Central title. A 5-2 victory over the Montreal Expos left Cincinnati on the threshold of its first division championship in five years.

But the Reds could not celebrate as the Houston Astros kept the race alive for at least two more days by defeating the Chicago Cubs, 4-0, later Wednesday night. One Cincinnati victory or Houston defeat will give the Reds the title.

Cincinnati and Houston are off today, so the best the Reds can hope for is to clinch Friday in Philadelphia.

Houston 4, Chicago 0--Shane Reynolds, winless since Aug. 30, pitched a seven-hitter and Craig Biggio drove in two runs with a second-inning single, leading the Astros at Houston.

Houston remained one game behind the Dodgers in the wild-card race.

Reynolds (10-11) got his first victory of the month in four starts. He struck out 12 and walked one in his third complete game and second shutout of the season. He allowed only one runner to reach second base until the sixth inning when Mark Grace singled and went to third on Luis Gonzalez’s double with two outs. He struck out Shawon Dunston to end the inning.

Florida 2, Philadelphia 1--John Burkett pitched a four-hitter and Quilvio Veras had a two-run homer at Philadelphia. The only run off Burkett (14-12) was Lenny Webster’s third homer with two outs in the second. He struck out four and walked two.

St. Louis 9, Pittsburgh 3--Terry Bradshaw’s two-run triple led the Cardinals in what might be the Pirates final home game. Pittsburgh, unable to attract a buyer for 13 months, could be sold and moved if California newspaper heir Kevin McClatchy can’t close a deal by Friday.

The game was almost an afterthought as fans scurried to buy extra programs and final-game souvenirs. Some fans bought extra, unused tickets as souvenirs should a franchise that has operated continuously in Pittsburgh since 1887 be moved.

New York 8, Atlanta 4--Jeff Kent went four for five and drove in two runs for the Mets, who won their seventh in eight games and second in a row over the NL East champions. Jason Isringhausen (8-2) won his sixth consecutive decision.