National League Roundup : Browning Almost Has It All in Cincinnati’s 2-1 Victory Over Houston

Tom Browning got almost everything he wanted.

Browning allowed the Houston Astros just five hits in 7 innings to win his fourth straight game as the Cincinnati Reds scored a 2-1 victory Monday night at Houston.

“This was a good win, especially in the Dome and the first game of a road trip,� said Browning (6-3), who struck out six. “I felt I had good control and command of my pitches.�

But Browning’s victory came at the expense of Houston’s Jim Deshaies (4-5), a former high school adversary and teammate at LeMoyne College.

Deshaies (4-5) allowed eight hits in eight innings, but lost to Browning for the second time in less than a week. He walked four and struck out five.

“I like pitching against him,� Browning said. “I wish he could have had a no decision.�

Houston’s only run off Browning came on Kevin Bass’ sixth homer in the fourth inning.

Cincinnati’s Barry Larkin tied the game in the sixth with his sixth homer. Chris Sabo followed with a double and later scored on Nick Esasky’s sacrifice fly.

“I like to see (Browning) do well against everyone but us,� Deshaies said.

Pittsburgh 8, New York 5--John Smiley won his fourth straight decision as the Pirates scored six runs on eight singles in the seventh to beat the Mets at New York.

The Mets were leading, 3-2 in the seventh when pitcher Bob Ojeda (5-6) threw Jose Lind’s bunt single down the right-field line, allowing two runs to score. Bobby Bonilla, Darnell Coles, Sid Bream and Mike LaValliere added run-scoring singles for the Pirates.

Smiley (7-4) allowed six hits in six innings, striking out seven. Jeff Robinson, the Pirates’ third pitcher, earned his eighth save by allowing one hit in 1 innings.

Darryl Strawberry’s three-run homer gave the Mets a 3-2 lead in the fourth, and Dave Magadan hit a two-run homer in the eighth.

Chicago 7, Philadelphia 2--Jamie Moyer allowed four hits in eight innings at Philadelphia and the Phillies had only two baserunners after the first inning, as the Cubs won their fifth straight game.

Moyer (4-7) gave up three hits in the first, including a two-run homerby Lance Parrish.

Moyer hit Schmidt with a pitch in the third and gave up a single to Keith Miller in the eighth. Moyer struck out eight and walked none in eight innings. Les Lancaster pitched a perfect ninth.

Manny Trillo singled home a run in the fourth and the Cubs chased Bruce Ruffin (4-6) in a four-run sixth. Shawon Dunston drove in three runs with a single in the sixth and a two-run homer in the eight.

Montreal 3, St. Louis 2--Graig Nettles and Andres Galarraga hit run-scoring doubles in the eighth inning at Montreal and the Expos beat the Cardinals to snap a five-game losing streak.

Floyd Youmans (3-6) allowed five hits and over eight innings and Jeff Parrett worked the ninth for his fifth save.

Jose DeLeon allowed Montreal just three hits in 7 innings, leaving after a pinch double by Wallace Johnson. Ken Dayley (1-3) came on and yielded a double to Nettles and an intentional walk to Tim Raines. Todd Worrell then got Mitch Webster to fly out before alowing Galarraga’s game-winning hit.

San Diego 2, San Francisco 1--Andy Hawkins and Mark Davis combined on an eight-hitter and the Padres made the most of three hits off Mike LaCoss to beat the Giants at San Francisco.

Hawkins (6-6) allowed six hits, walked two and struck out four but gave way to Davis, who struck out Will Clark and Candy Maldonado with two on and one out in the eighth. In the ninth, Davis gave up an RBI single to Jose Uribe but struck out Ernest Riles with two out and the bases loaded, earning his 12th save.

LaCoss (5-5) allowed only three singles, all in the third, when the Padres scored on Hawkins’ infield out and Marvell Wynne’s RBI single.