NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Davis Hits Grand Slam, Clinches Reds’ 8-3 Win
Zane Smith could be in for a very long season if he continues to surrender the long ball at his current pace.
Smith, a left-hander for the Montreal Expos, gave up three home runs, including a sixth-inning grand slam to Eric Davis, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Expos, 8-3, Monday at Cincinnati.
In his last seven starts, Smith (5-7) has given up 23 runs--16 of them on homers.
“I’ve given up a lot of home runs on my second and third-best pitches,†said Smith, who was burned on sliders to Davis, Joe Oliver and Barry Larkin. “Now I’m going to stay more with my fastball because I’m not getting hurt with my fastball.â€
Davis lined a full-count pitch over the left-field wall for the fifth grand slam of his career and 12th homer of the season.
“I threw him four or five fastballs, then I threw him the slider right there, and he did what he’s supposed to do,†Smith said.
Oliver hit his sixth homer to lead off the seventh and Larkin followed with a two-run shot, his fifth, later in the inning.
Chris Sabo also homered for the Reds, his 17th, off Drew Hall in the eighth.
Chris Hammond, 24, lasted only 2 2/3 innings in his first major league appearance, giving up three hits and walking three. Tim Layana (4-0), the third Cincinnati pitcher, worked four scoreless innings for the victory.
Larry Walker hit his 11th homer for the Expos.
San Francisco 6, Pittsburgh 1--Scott Garrelts, ineffective in three previous starts against the Pirates this season, pitched a three-hitter at Pittsburgh to lead the Giants, who have won six of their last seven.
Garrelts (7-7), who was 0-2 with a 7.80 ERA against the Pirates this season, won for the sixth time in seven decisions since May 31.
Pitching on three days’ rest for the first time since mid-May, Garrelts struck out five and walked four while pitching his second consecutive complete game.
Rick Reed (2-1) took the loss.
Houston 4, New York 1--The Mets, the hottest team in the league at the All-Star break, lost at Houston, suffering their fourth loss in five games.
Mark Portugal (4-8) earned his first victory against the Mets, allowing three hits in 6 2/3 innings.
Portugal retired 16 consecutive batters after Gregg Jefferies’ solo homer and Darryl Strawberry’s first-inning single.
Larry Andersen finished for his third save; the Mets’ Bob Ojeda (4-4) took the loss.
Chicago 4, San Diego 3--Marvell Wynne doubled home two runs and pitcher Mike Harkey (7-4) helped his own cause with a run-scoring single at Chicago.
With two outs in the first inning, Mark Grace and Andre Dawson singled, and Wynne drove in both runners when he doubled off Eric Show (1-7).
Harkey gave up six hits in six innings and had four strikeouts.
Mitch Williams got the final out for his 10th save.
Philadelphia 7, Atlanta 2--Terry Mulholland pitched a six-hitter and Von Hayes and Darren Daulton each drove in two runs for the Phillies at Atlanta.
Mulholland (4-3) struck out three and walked one in his first complete game of the season.
Ron Gant hit his 18th homer for the Braves.
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