National League Roundup : Krukow, Giants Beat Mets Again

The New York Mets have the best record in the major leagues and they are breezing to the title in the National League East.

But they can’t figure out how to beat the San Francisco Giants.

With Mike Krukow improving his career record against the Mets to 19-7 and Will Clark leading the way on offense and defense, the Giants defeated the Mets, 4-2, Tuesday night in a rain-delayed game at New York.

In ending the Mets’ seven-game winning streak, the Giants, below .500 against the rest of the league, improved their record against the Mets to 4-0.

Krukow (4-2) went only five innings, giving up both runs and five hits, and left because his shoulder tightened. Atlee Hammaker yielded only two hits in the last four innings.

The Mets might have the league’s worst record if they had to face Krukow and the Giants more often.

“Krukow knows he pitches well against the Mets and beats them,” Manager Roger Craig of the Giants said. “It’s a psychological advantage for him. But he couldn’t go any longer with his shoulder hurting.”

Clark tripled and homered, accounting for three of the Giant runs. He has driven in 14 runs in the last 14 games and has hit 6 home runs during the streak.

In the sixth inning, with two runners on, Clark made a diving catch of Gary Carter’s line drive at first base and turned it into an inning-ending double play.

The Giant bullpen has allowed only 1 earned run in the last 22 innings.

With a 30-12 record, the Mets lead the East by five games, but they are easy for the Giants.

The Mets opened their first trip West by losing three games at San Francisco. They didn’t lose again in California, beating San Diego four times and the Dodgers three times.

Pittsburgh 5, Houston 4--The finish at Pittsburgh was more exciting than the start, which was delayed 39 minutes by rain.

Alan Ashby’s second home run of the game in the top of the ninth gave the Astros a 4-3 lead, but Larry Anderson couldn’t hold it.

Barry Bonds opened with a bunt single, and with one out, Andy Van Slyke singled him to third. Bobby Bonilla singled in the tying run as Van Slyke went to third. Former Dodger Sid Bream then hit a long fly ball, sending Van Slyke home with the winning run.

Jim Gott, who appeared to be the loser when he served up Ashby’s home run in the ninth, wound up the winner.

Atlanta 3-1, Chicago 0-2--Russ Nixon admitted that he had the jitters before making his debut as manager of the Braves in the doubleheader at Chicago.

With winds up to 31 m.p.h. blowing in, it was a big day for pitchers. The Braves won the opener with three runs in the 10th, but in the nightcap, Al Nipper won his first National League game when Damon Berryhill delivered a run-scoring single in the sixth inning.

Nipper (1-2) went six innings to register the victory.

“It was a great day,” said Nixon, who has been in professional baseball for 35 years. “Winning the first game was a confidence-builder for everyone.”

With the high winds, outfielders were playing right in back of the infielders.

St. Louis 3, Cincinnati 2--After a suicide squeeze bunt misfired in the bottom of the 11th at St. Louis, the Cardinals were given the victory by Red relief star John Franco.

With the bases loaded and one out, rookie Luis Alicea missed a bunt, and Willie McGee was out at the plate. But Franco walked Alicea, then also walked Jose Oquendo to force in the winning run.

Franco’s wildness made a winner out of Ken Dayley. Rookie Cris Carpenter went seven innings for the Cardinals.

Speedy Vince Coleman went 5 for 5 and stole a base, but he didn’t score a run.

Montreal 7, San Diego 6--Marvel Wynne hit a two-run home run in the top of the 13th inning at Montreal to give the Padres a two-run cushion, but it wasn’t enough.

Hubie Brooks singled home Tim Raines with two out in the bottom of the inning to cap the three-run rally that won it for the Expos.

The Expos forced extra innings when Andres Galarraga led off the ninth with his 10th home run.

Wynne’s two homers gave him the Padre club lead with six.