NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Bonds Repays Piniella for Holiday

Barry Bonds gives the credit for his fast start in the second half of the season to Cincinnati Manager Lou Piniella.

Piniella didn’t pick last season’s most valuable player for the National League All-Star team, so Bonds had an extra three days of rest.

It has been Piniella and his team who have suffered.

Bonds hit his second three-run home run in two games Friday night at Cincinnati as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Reds, 7-2. Thursday night, his three-run homer came during a five-run eighth inning that broke open a tight game.

Bonds also had a run-scoring single to help Doug Drabek win for the seventh time in his last eight starts.

Like Bonds, Drabek, the Cy Young Award winner in 1990, had a poor start. He is 9-8 after giving up five hits, including home runs by Barry Larkin and Paul O’Neill.

“The three days off was good,” Bonds said with a hint of sarcasm. “The players around me know what I can do and the players around the league know what I can do. That’s all that matters. As long as you’re respected out there, you can’t get upset over little things.

“After three days off you’re really antsy to play again. It’s always nice to beat the Reds.”

The Reds, trailing, 3-1, showed disdain for Bonds in the fifth inning. With two out and runners on second and third, they let right-hander Jack Armstrong (6-8) pitch to the left-handed-swinging Bonds. Bonds hit the first pitch for his 13th home run. With eight runs batted in in the last two games, he has 59 for the season.

“I didn’t think in that situation I would even get to swing the bat,” Bonds said. “I thought they were going to walk me.”

Piniella said he indicated to Armstrong that with first base open, he shouldn’t give Bonds a pitch to hit.

“I should have put him on,” Armstrong said. “Next time, I’ll walk him.”

The Pirates needed the victory to stay 2 1/2 games ahead of the New York Mets, who have won nine in a row. Their fourth loss in a row prevented the Reds from cutting into the Dodgers’ five-game lead in the West.

Larkin’s home run came after Drabek, who opened the season 1-6, retired the first 10.

New York 6, San Diego 3--The Mets remained unbeaten in July, extending their winning streak to nine as Gregg Jefferies returned to the lineup and drove in three runs at New York.

The Padres have lost four in a row and 11 of their last 14.

Jefferies, sidelined two weeks because of flu and a strep throat, hit his seventh home run and a single. Howard Johnson extended his league lead in home runs when he hit his 20th to open the eighth.

Frank Viola (11-5) didn’t give up a hit until Darrin Jackson homered with two out in the fifth inning. He gave up three hits in seven innings and Alejandro Pena pitched the last two innings for his fourth save.

Atlanta 6, St. Louis 2--With the Dodgers and Reds playing poorly, the Braves are getting renewed hope.

Lonnie Smith hit two home runs at Atlanta and John Smoltz ended a slump as the Braves moved to within 7 1/2 games of the Dodgers.

Smoltz (3-11) had lost six in a row since May 30. But he gave up seven hits in 6 1/3 innings and Smith’s outburst gave him the victory.

“I knew that my body was sound,” Smoltz said. “So the problem had to be in my head. I consulted a sports psychologist, and he helped me.”

Chicago 5, Houston 2--Now that he has overcome physical problems, Frank Castillo is proving he belongs in the majors.

The 22-year-old right-hander took a no-hitter into the sixth inning at Chicago and won his second in a row. Castillo gave up three hits in 8 1/3 innings.

Castillo had back problems last season, then suffered a broken thumb in his first start of the season. After going 3-1 at triple-A Iowa, the Cubs brought him up.

Castillo has shown a good fastball and excellent control. In 32 1/3 innings, he has walked six and struck out 21.

Jose Vizcaino’s two singles and two doubles led the Cubs’ 10-hit attack.

Philadelphia 1, San Francisco 0--Darren Daulton homered in the fifth inning at Philadelphia before the rains came and Tommy Greene and two relievers made it stand up.

Greene (6-3) gave up three hits in 5 1/3 innings before the game was delayed for more than an hour. When play resumed, Wally Ritchie took over. He pitched 2 2/3 innings and Mitch Williams finished for his 15th save.

Daulton was in a nine-for-51 slump before his fifth home run made a loser of Bud Black (6-8). Black hasn’t won since June 6.