Valenzuela Ends Cardinals’ Win Streak

Fernando Valenzuela continued to amaze his San Diego Padre teammates Sunday, beating the St. Louis Cardinals, 5-4, at St. Louis.

Valenzuela won his eighth consecutive decision and Wally Joyner hit a three-run home run as the Padres ended the Cardinals’ eight-game winning streak.

The Central-leading Cardinals had scored 57 runs and had 80 hits in their previous six games of the streak, the longest since 1987.

But Valenzuela (13-7) limited the Cardinals to two runs and five hits in seven innings. He is undefeated in his last 10 starts with a 2.52 earned-run average in that span, and has his longest winning streak since 1985.

“Once again, Fernando was unbelievable,” Padre outfielder Tony Gwynn said. “I don’t think he’s got the zip he had 10 years ago, but he knows how to pitch.

“The more you watch him, the more you appreciate him. You realize there are more ways to get people out than just by overpowering them.”

Valenzuela was in trouble in the fourth when John Mabry broke a scoreless game with a two-run single and Tom Pagnozzi walked to reload the bases. The Padres had Mike Oquist warming up. But Luis Alicea grounded sharply to third for an inning-ending double play.

New York 6, Atlanta 2--Todd Hundley hit his 40th home run, tying Roy Campanella’s major league mark for homers by a catcher, as the Mets beat Greg Maddux at Atlanta.

The 419-foot solo shot to right in the seventh inning against Joe Borowski also broke Darryl Strawberry’s team record of 39 homers set in 1987 and 1988. Hundley also became the ninth player in the majors to hit 40 home runs this season, breaking the record of eight set in 1961.

Mark Clark (13-11) gave up four hits in eight innings.

Maddux (13-11) gave up five runs and seven hits.

Florida 2, Montreal 1--Gary Sheffield hit his 41st home run and Rick Helling pitched seven strong innings in his first National League start to lead the Marlins at Miami.

Sheffield’s homer against Pedro Martinez (12-10) moved him into a tie with Colorado’s Andres Galarraga for the NL lead in home runs.

Helling (1-0) spent most of this season at triple-A Oklahoma City and was acquired Tuesday to complete a trade with Texas that sent John Burkett to the Rangers. He had a career-high nine strikeouts and gave up four hits.

Robb Nen pitched a perfect ninth for his 31st save.

Colorado 5, Houston 2--Dante Bichette’s run-scoring double highlighted a three-run ninth inning that paced the Rockies at Houston.

The Rockies won for only the fourth time in their last 17 road games.

Steve Reed (4-3) got one out in the eighth for the victory. Bruce Ruffin pitched the ninth for his 19th save.

Jeff Bagwell tied an Astro record with his 44th double.

Cincinnati 8, San Francisco 3--Barry Larkin and Eddie Taubensee homered during a five-run eighth at Cincinnati.

Barry Bonds hit his 37th homer for the Giants.

Chicago 5, Philadelphia 3--Jaime Navarro (15-9) won his eighth consecutive decision and Scott Servais drove in three runs for the Cubs at Philadelphia.

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Second-Half Sensation

A look at Fernando Valenzeula’s statistics since the All-Star break:

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IP H ER BB SO W-L ERA 65 1/3 59 22 33 31 8-0 3.03

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