NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Darling Makes a Move to Stay With the Mets

Ron Darling has heard the rumors that the New York Mets are about to trade him.

The veteran right-hander made a move Wednesday night that he hopes will give the Mets second thoughts.

Darling held the Expos to two hits in eight innings at Montreal, pitching the Mets to a 4-0 victory as the Expos lost their 10th in a row. Howard Johnson hit a two-run home run to take over the National League lead with 19.

It was the third victory in four starts for Darling, who seems resigned to his fate.

“You have to realize,” he said, “that this is a business. And, there is always a chance you will be traded. I would hate to leave New York, but I will just keep doing my best.

“I hope this performance will make them change their minds. But, I’m just happy to play a part in keeping the streak going.”

Darling, 30, is 5-5. Reportedly, he will be traded as soon as Sid Fernandez is ready to pitch. Fernandez broke his left wrist in training camp and is about a week away from being ready.

The Mets need more hitting if they are going to challenge Pittsburgh in the National League East. Darling is a pitcher they could trade for a hitter.

“I feel like a Met through and through,” he said. “But trades are just a part of what you have to expect.”

Atlanta 8, Cincinnati 6--The Reds’ drive to overtake the Dodgers was dealt a bit of a setback by the Braves, who ended a four-game losing streak at home.

The Reds rallied from a 6-1 deficit to tie it in the sixth inning with the help of Joe Oliver’s three-run home run.

But Mark Lemke singled home the tie-breaking run in the bottom of the inning, and the Braves, who had 17 hits, held on for the victory.

The Reds had won seven of their past eight games.

Greg Olson, who scored what proved to be the winning run, had three hits.

“We’ve been going through tough times,” Lemke said. “I’m glad to finally help.”

Pittsburgh 11, Chicago 7--The Pirates have posted the best record in the majors largely without showing their prowess at the plate.

A short visit to Chicago has taken care of that problem.

With Andy Van Slyke hitting a home run in his third consecutive game, the Pirates pounded Chicago again.

Tuesday they had 13 runs and 22 hits, and in this one they had 11 hits and made the most of them.

Zane Smith, sharp until he tired in the seventh inning, improved his record to 9-6. Van Slyke’s two-run homer in the fourth gave Smith a lead and the Pirates scored four in the sixth.

Orlando Merced hit a three-run home run, a 450-foot shot to center, to highlight a five-run eighth.

St. Louis 4, Philadelphia 3--Playing half the season in spacious Busch Stadium, Pedro Guerrero sometimes wonders if he has lost his power.

There’s nothing like a trip to Philadelphia to reassure him.

Guerrero hit a three-run home run and drove in all the runs as the Cardinals won their third in a row.

It was only the sixth home run for Guerrero, who also hit one Tuesday night, and it was only the 26th this season for the Cardinals.

The three-run shot in the fifth inning made a winner of Omar Olivares. Although he gave up a run in the ninth, Lee Smith picked up his 23rd save.

Ozzie Smith had three hits and scored two runs, raising his average to .313.

Houston 9, San Francisco 0--Luis Gonzalez drove in five runs, three on a ninth-inning home run, to lead the Astros’ romp at San Francisco.

Jim Deshaies, who has struggled this season, held the Giants to four hits in eight innings to improve to 3-7.