NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Sabo Helps Reds End Expos’ Win Streak

For the first time since last year’s World Series, Chris Sabo hit two home runs in one game and the Cincinnati Reds earned a victory.

Sabo hit a solo homer off rookie Chris Haney and a two-run shot off Tim Burke as the Reds defeated the Montreal Expos, 7-3, Friday night at Cincinnati.

Joe Oliver added a two-run homer to help the Reds end the Expos’ seven-game winning streak.

Haney (0-1), a left-hander making his major league debut, and Burke both threw Sabo fastballs over the middle of the plate.

“He’s proven he can do damage with that,” Expo Manager Tom Runnells said. “He did it again tonight.”

Billy Hatcher lined Haney’s fifth pitch of the game for a ground-rule double, Hal Morris sacrificed Hatcher to third, and Barry Larkin followed with a sacrifice fly. Sabo then hit a full-count fastball into the second deck in left field for a 2-0 lead.

Ivan Calderon tied the score in the fourth with his ninth homer, off Scott Scudder (2-3), who won for the first time since May 30 by scattering four hits over seven innings. It was Scudder’s second start since he came off the disabled list June 17 after recovering from torn cartilage in his rib cage.

But Haney surrendered two more runs on Oliver’s two-out homer in the bottom of the inning, the catcher’s first home run since last Aug. 23 in Pittsburgh.

The Reds took command against Burke, relegated to middle relief with a 3-3 record and 4.33 earned-run average. The right-hander gave up an infield single in the fifth to Hatcher and a two-out homer to Sabo, his 10th.

Burke grazed Glenn Braggs’ elbow with his first pitch after Sabo’s homer, prompting Braggs to point and yell at Burke as he walked to first base. Braggs then stole second and came home on Paul O’Neill’s single.

Atlanta 4, New York 2--Rookie Brian Hunter drove in four runs with a three-run homer and double at Atlanta.

Hunter’s homer off Frank Viola (7-5) erased a 2-0 deficit in the fourth inning and his run-scoring double came in the sixth as the Braves won for only the second time in eight games.

Charlie Leibrandt (6-5) gave up four hits, struck out one and walked one in seven innings. Juan Berenguer pitched two innings for his ninth save.

Viola, who gave up six hits in seven innings, lost for the fourth time in his last five decisions.

Ron Gant started the fourth with a double down the left-field line and Jeff Blauser drew a one-out walk before Hunter hit a 1-and-0 pitch into the seats inside the left-field foul pole.

Hunter’s run-scoring double came after Lonnie Smith singled and went to second on Blauser’s sacrifice.

A postgame fireworks show helped draw a crowd of 43,229, the Braves’ largest since 45,679 attended July 3, 1987.

Philadelphia 3, Houston 0--Emergency starter Bruce Ruffin gave up three hits in eight innings and Mickey Morandini hit a three-run homer at Philadelphia, sending the Astros to their fifth consecutive loss.

Ruffin (1-0) took the place of scheduled starter Pat Combs, who experienced soreness in his elbow while warming up. Mitch Williams got the last three outs for his 12th save.

The Astros loaded the bases in the ninth, but Mark Davidson ended the game with a shallow fly to right.

Mark Portugal (6-3) had a perfect game through five innings but finished by giving up four hits and striking out five in seven innings.

Dickie Thon was ejected in the fourth inning when he left the dugout in attempt get at Portugal. Both benches and bullpens emptied, but no punches were thrown.

St. Louis 4, San Diego 3--Ray Lankford broke a one-for-14 slump with a game-winning single in the ninth inning at St. Louis as the Cardinals won for the fourth consecutive time.

Pinch-hitter Milt Thompson got an infield hit with two outs, stole second and scored on Lankford’s single to center off reliever Larry Andersen (2-1).

Juan Agosto (5-1), the third Cardinal pitcher, worked an inning for the victory. The Cardinals have won eight of their last 11, and moved seven games over .500 for the first time since 1989.

Tony Gwynn had three hits and drove in two runs, raising his major league leading average to .369. Gwynn has 101 hits.

San Francisco 4, Chicago 2--Terry Kennedy’s two-run homer with two outs in the seventh inning at San Francisco gave the Giants the victory and sent the Cubs to their seventh consecutive loss.

Greg Maddux (6-5) took a one-hitter into the seventh when Robby Thompson doubled with two outs. Kennedy followed with his homer, driving Maddux’s 2-and-0 pitch over the right-field fence.

The homer was the first of the season for Kennedy. His last homer was July 29 of last season against the Reds.

Maddux went seven innings, giving up four hits and walking one while striking out a career-high 10.

Kelly Downs (4-4) got the win in relief of starter Bud Black, who gave up one run and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings. Dave Righetti, the fourth Giant pitcher, worked the final 1 2/3 innings for his ninth save.