NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Bonilla Makes Noise With Bat in 14-1 Win

Bobby Bonilla broke out of his season-long hitting slump at New York’s Shea Stadium with a career-high six runs batted in, including a grand slam, as the Mets routed the San Francisco Giants, 14-1, Monday night.

The Mets entered the game with only two runs in the first four games of their home stand--all losses--and Bonilla was hitting only .137 with no homers and four RBIs at home this season.

Bonilla was booed loudly over the weekend as the Mets lost twice to Atlanta, and he wore earplugs in Saturday’s game.

He didn’t wear the earplugs Monday night, but said he will resume wearing them.

He also set the record straight. He said he didn’t wear the earplugs to block out boos from fans, as had been reported. Rather, he wore them at the suggestion of coach Tom McGraw to block out the general noise from the crowd and the planes overhead.

“I can take criticism and I’ve always been accessible,” Bonilla said. “Win or lose, I’m always at my locker. It’s unfair for me to have to take this kind of criticism when nobody in the media knew or cared what the real reason was for using them. Now maybe the stories will tell the truth.”

Bonilla had an RBI single in a two-run first inning, the third grand slam of his career highlighted a six-run second and he added a run-scoring double in a four-run fifth. He also walked and scored in the fourth.

The Mets had a season-high 16 hits, including three singles apiece from Dave Magadan and Vince Coleman and two doubles by Todd Hundley. The 14 runs were also a season high for the Mets.

Bonilla’s six RBIs were two shy of the club record for a game set by Dave Kingman in 1978 against the Dodgers.

Bonilla hit his grand slam deep into the Mets’ bullpen in right field and was given a long, loud ovation.

“It was nice to have a game like this and be able to relax,” Bonilla said. “The fans responded to me tonight. I don’t believe that they ever thought I was abusing them. The fans only believe what they read and hear. How can they know why I was really using the earplugs?”

Atlanta 7, Philadelphia 6--Tom Glavine became the National League’s first eight-game winner and also drove in two runs in a six-run third inning at Atlanta.

Glavine (8-3) allowed five hits and four runs--one earned--in 5 1/3 innings, increasing his record against the Phillies to 10-1.

Montreal 7, Houston 1--Dennis Martinez pitched a four-hitter to win his fifth consecutive decision, and rookie Matt Stairs drove in three runs for the Expos at Houston.

Martinez (6-4), who hasn’t lost since April 27, struck out eight and walked one in his second complete game.

Chicago 6, San Diego 1--Greg Maddux, who hadn’t won since May 6 and had only one victory in seven previous starts, pitched a four-hitter as the Cubs won at Chicago.

Derrick May delivered the key hit, a two-run single in a five-run fifth inning. Maddux (5-5) allowed only four singles.