NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Peterson Is Starting to Help the Padres

Adam Peterson is getting a chance to pitch for San Diego only because five Padre pitchers are on the disabled list.

The 6-foot-3 right-hander from Long Beach is making the most of his opportunity.

Peterson pitched six strong innings Saturday night at Cincinnati and was the winner in the Padres’ 5-2 victory over the Reds.

The Padres ended a three-game losing streak with just their second win in the last 10 games.

Peterson gave up four hits and a run and struck out four, leaving with a 5-1 lead.

It was the second start for Peterson after he was brought up 10 days ago from Las Vegas of the Pacific Coast League. In his first start last week, he pitched well, but errors by first baseman Fred McGriff and shortstop Tony Fernandez contributed to his defeat. He gave up five runs in 5 1/3 innings, but only one was earned.

The Padres, in a trade of minor leaguers, obtained Peterson, 25, from the Chicago White Sox. But, with starters Atlee Hammaker and Dennis Rasmussen and relievers Greg Harris, Pat Clements and Larry Andersen sidelined, the Padres needed help.

Peterson pitched 85 innings for the White Sox last season and was 2-5 with a 4.55 earned-run average.

He outpitched Jack Armstrong (3-2), who struck out nine but gave up five runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Fernandez made up for his misplay the other time Peterson pitched by getting four hits. Former Pepperdine star Paul Faries had two hits, scored a run and drove in one.

Despite their slump, the Padres are only one game behind the third-place Reds in the West.

Philadelphia 5, Chicago 2--After pitching well for the third time in a row, Danny Cox suffered a slight setback in his comeback for the Phillies.

Cox, who was out of baseball most of the last two seasons because of delicate arm surgery, had given up just two hits in 5 2/3 innings at Philadelphia. But in getting the second out of the sixth, he injured his groin. He is listed as day-to-day.

“We may know tomorrow,” Manager Jim Fregosi said. “It’s a shame because he was pitching so well.”

The Phillies rallied for four runs in the eighth to pull out the victory.

John Kruk’s two-run double off Paul Assenmacher brought the Phillies from behind and Ricky Jordan greeted reliever Mike Bielecki with a two-run single to break it open.

Joe Boever, who gave up the run in the sixth that put the Cubs ahead, ended up getting the victory.

St. Louis 12, Houston 2--Bryn Smith (4-1) pitched a three-hitter at St. Louis and drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single in the fourth inning.

Todd Zeile and Pedro Guerrero hit home runs and the Cardinals broke the game open with six runs, all after two were out. Three Houston errors helped make it a big inning.

The Astros spoiled Smith’s shutout bid with two runs in the sixth after the Cardinals had built a 10-0 lead.

Montreal 3, San Francisco 1--Oil Can Boyd held the slumping Giants to two hits in seven innings at San Francisco, then gave Tim Burke a chance to get his 100th save. Boyd was gone after Robby Thompson opened the bottom of the eighth with a double. Burke came in and stopped the Giants for two innings to get his fourth save this season and the 100th of his career.

The Giants, last in the West, have lost 14 of their last 18.

The Expos, tied for last in the East, are 5-1 against the Giants this season.