NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Giants Finally Win Without 2 Sluggers

The nightmare finally ended for Manager Roger Craig and his San Francisco Giants--but just barely.

The Giants, who lost their previous seven games and have the worst record in the major leagues, built a five-run lead Saturday night at Atlanta and held on for a 7-6 victory.

The Giants ended their skid although their two sluggers, Kevin Mitchell and Will Clark, missed the game because of injuries. Clark was spiked in Friday night’s loss, while Mitchell has a knee injury.

“I didn’t feel safe until Jeff Brantley struck out Ron Gant for the final out,” Craig said. “During this losing streak, we played quite a few games like this, except we kept winding up on the short end.

“We are too good a team to keep on losing, even with our big hitters missing.”

Mike Felder had three hits, including a two-run triple in the five-run sixth inning that built a 7-2 lead.

Robby Thompson also had three hits for the Giants, including his seventh home run.

The Braves rallied to the delight of their largest crowd (37,306) of the season against Kelly Downs (2-2) and four relievers before the beleaguered Giants won for only the fifth time in 23 road games.

With a 13-29 record, San Francisco trails the Dodgers in the National League West by 11 1/2 games.

St. Louis 7, New York 2--When the Cardinals lost their best pitcher, Joe Magrane, because of an elbow injury in spring training, they were expected to again finish last in the East.

But the emergence of some good young pitchers, most notably, Ken Hill, have made them better than expected.

Hill, highly rated a couple of years ago, pitched his third consecutive strong game and improved to 5-2 with the victory at New York.

Felix Jose is another reason for the Cardinals’ early success. Jose increased his league-leading average to .358 with two hits and drove in two runs to help the Cards move into second place.

Hill escaped a bases-loaded jam in the second inning and gave up a run and five hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Pittsburgh 4, Philadelphia 2--The rap against young Pirate first baseman Orlando Merced was that he lacked power.

Merced hit a two-run home run with one out in the 11th inning at Pittsburgh to give the Pirates the victory.

Curtis Wilkerson, who singled home the tying run in the ninth, beat out a bunt to start the offense.

After Bob Walk, making his first start since suffering a groin injury April 14, went four innings, the Pirate bullpen was magnificent.

Four relievers gave up only one hit in the last eight innings. Vicente Palacios pitched the 11th to win it.

Darren Daulton, seriously injured in an auto accident May 6, made his first start behind the plate for the Phillies, going hitless in three at-bats and striking out twice.

Until Merced woke up the crowd with his home run, many fans were listening to the Pittsburgh Penguins win the Stanley Cup at Minnesota.

“I’m glad we don’t have to fly anywhere tonight,” Merced said. “That airport will be a madhouse.”

Chicago 6, Montreal 1--Even a rain delay of almost two hours at the start failed to slow the start of Jim Essian as manager of the Cubs.

The Cubs hit three home runs, including Ryne Sandberg’s seventh, at Chicago and Essian improved his record to 4-0.

Damon Barryhill and Luis Salazar also homered for the Cubs.

Mike Bielecki gave up two hits in five innings to win his sixth game.

San Diego 4, Houston 2--Scott Coolbaugh’s first home run of the season triggered a three-run 10th inning at Houston that led the Padres to victory. Errors by outfielder Eric Yelding and shortstop Rafael Ramirez enabled the Padres to get the other two runs.

Earlier, Fred McGriff hit his 11th home run for the Padres to take over the NL lead.

Padre starter Dennis Rasmussen, just off the disabled list, gave up a run and three hits and struck out seven in seven innings.