NATIONAL LEAGUE : It’s a Double Loss for the Mets

The New York Mets had their eyes on the Shea Stadium scoreboard Sunday, producing what pitcher Frank Viola called, “a helpless feeling.”

The Mets were hoping for a Pittsburgh loss to St. Louis and a Met victory over the Chicago Cubs, which would have pulled the Mets to within three games of first heading into a three-game series in Pittsburgh.

But the Pirates beat the Cardinals, 2-0, to clinch their first National League East title since 1979 and the Mets went on to lose to the Cubs, 6-5, at New York.

The Pirates’ victory was posted on the scoreboard in the top of the ninth and several Mets bowed their heads and toyed with the infield dirt.

Trailing 5-4, the Cubs scored two runs off John Franco (5-3) on Derrick May’s run-scoring single and an error by shortstop Howard Johnson.

“We all underachieved,” Met Manager Bud Harrelson said. “We’re all guilty.”

The Mets have several major decisions to make during the winter, the biggest concerning the re-signing of Darryl Strawberry.

“If they want to talk to me, they can call my agent,” said Strawberry, who leads the team with 37 home runs and 108 RBIs. “I really can’t say if I have played my last game here.”

Andre Dawson hit his 27th homer, a two run shot off Sid Fernandez in the first inning, that gave him 24 runs batted in in 28 games this month.

Jose Nunez (4-7) pitched 1 2/3 innings and Mitch Williams finished for his 15th save.

San Diego 3, Cincinnati 0--Derek Lilliquist and Greg Harris combined on a five-hitter and Joe Carter moved closer to the Padres’ single-season RBI record in the win at Cincinnati.

Lilliquist (5-11) allowed four hits in six-plus innings before giving way to Harris who earned his ninth save.

Jose Rijo (14-8), scheduled to start Game 1 of the playoffs on Thursday, allowed four hits and two runs in five innings.

Carter, who drove in his first run in seven games, is three shy of the record of 118 RBIs set by Dave Winfield in 1979.

The Padres made it 2-0 in the fourth when Carter walked, took second on Mike Pagliarulo’s single and scored on Rijo’s throwing error.

Philadelphia 2, Montreal 1--Terry Mulholland pitched a five-hitter at Montreal as the Expos lost for the ninth time in 10 games.

Mulholland (9-10) struck out two and walked none in his sixth complete game of the season.

Wes Chamberlain drove in the game-winning run in the sixth with a single that scored Randy ready from second.

Rookie Chris Nabholz (6-2) allowed two runs and five hits in eight innings for the Expos.

Houston 6, Atlanta 2--Mark Portugal won for the seventh time in eight decisions and the Astros completed a nine-game sweep of the Braves at home.

Portugal (11-10) is 15-2 after the All-Star break in the last two seasons with Houston. He shut out Atlanta for seven innings, but left with the bases loaded in the eighth.

Jim Clancy earned his first save.

Houston scored four runs in the second off Tom Glavine (10-12). Rafael Ramirez and Ken Caminiti hit run-scoring singles in the eighth.