NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Shutout Just What the Doctor Ordered for Mets

It was just like last season. Dwight Gooden entered Saturday’s game with a 5-5 record and a string of inconsistent performances.

Gooden, however, looked like his old self against the Houston Astros, pitching a three-hitter for his 21st career shutout as the New York Mets beat the Astros, 6-0, at New York.

Gooden (6-5) struck out five, walked none and did not permit a runner past second base in his first victory in five starts. He needed only 91 pitches in his third complete game of the season.

Gooden got his first shutout since last June 23, and only his second in 64 starts since 1988.

“When you’re struggling, you fall behind the hitters. That’s what I’ve been doing,” said Gooden, who was 19-7 last season. “I couldn’t get my curve over in my last few starts. Then, everybody in the ballpark knows the fastball is coming.”

Garry Templeton hit a two-run homer in the second inning off Jimmy Jones (4-4) and also drove in a run on a force-out in the fourth.

Gooden got his 125th career victory a day after Boston’s Roger Clemens reached the mark. Gooden has 51 lifetime losses to 54 for Clemens, giving Gooden the best winning percentage in history for pitchers with at least 1,500 innings (.710).

Cincinnati 3, Philadelphia 1--Jose Rijo gave up one run in 8 2/3 innings and Barry Larkin hit a two-run homer in the third inning at Philadelphia as the Reds handed the Phillies their 11th loss in 15 games.

Rijo (6-2), who beat the Phillies with a four-hitter Sunday in Cincinnati, gave up five hits, struck out 10 and did not issue a walk. Rob Dibble got the last out for his 18th save in 18 opportunities.

The Reds scored a run in the first inning off Andy Ashby (0-2), who gave up four hits in five innings. He also struck out the side in the fourth inning on nine pitches, the 12th time in league history that feat had been accomplished, and the first time by a Phillie.

San Francisco 4, Pittsburgh 0--Mike Remlinger, the Giants’ No. 1 draft choice in the 1987, pitched a three-hit shutout at San Francisco in his major league debut.

Remlinger struck out four and walked three.

Matt Williams hit his ninth homer, a two-run shot off John Smiley (8-3) in the Giants’ four-run third.

Willie McGee singled in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to 19 games.

San Diego 6, Chicago 2--Jerald Clark had a two-run single, Tim Teufel had a run-scoring double and Scott Coolbaugh drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to cap a four-run eighth inning at San Diego.

Dennis Rasmussen (3-1) gave up eight hits in eight innings for the victory.

Thomas Howard homered for the Padres and George Bell hit his 13th home run for the Cubs.

Montreal 2, Atlanta 0--Dennis Martinez pitched his third shutout of the season for the victory at Montreal.

Martinez (9-4) gave up eight hits, struck out five and walked two for his fourth complete game and 21st career shutout.

John Smoltz (2-8) gave up six hits and struck out eight in 5 2/3 innings.