NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Padres Hit Back-to-Back Back-to-Back Homers

Here’s one for the record books.

Gary Sheffield and Fred McGriff of the San Diego Padres hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning, then did the same thing in the second as the Padres beat the Houston Astros, 7-5, Thursday night at San Diego.

Sheffield, who knocked in five runs with the two homers, set a club record for home runs in one season by a third baseman (22). The old mark was set by Dave Roberts in 1973.

McGriff’s two solo shots increased his National League-leading total to 25 homers.

The barrage against Astro starter Brian Williams (3-3) began with one out in the first when Sheffield hit a two-run homer that went 419 feet. McGriff then drove one 458 feet to center, the second longest homer in the National League this season. Darryl Strawberry hit one 460 feet at San Francisco.

In the second, Sheffield hit a three-run homer before McGriff followed with his second homer.

The Padres led, 7-1, after two innings.

The seven runs is three more than Padre starter Andy Benes (9-10) received in his last four starts combined, when he went 1-3.

Atlanta 5, Cincinnati 3--John Smoltz pitched a six-hitter at Atlanta as the Braves completed a three-game sweep of the Reds and increased their lead in the NL West to 3 1/2 games.

“This was definitely a huge sweep,” Smoltz said. “But they’re struggling with injuries, and I wouldn’t count them out.”

In pitching the Braves to their sixth victory in a row, Smoltz (14-6) got his eighth complete game, his fifth consecutive victory and his ninth victory in 10 games. In his last six starts, Smoltz has allowed only four earned runs over 50 1/3 innings.

Since the All-Star break a year ago, the right-hander is 25-8.

The final inning was typical of what Smoltz has done. The Reds’ Glenn Braggs opened the ninth with a double. Smoltz then got Bill Doran on a pop and struck out Chris Sabo and Joe Oliver to end the game, both on sliders.

Atlanta pounded Red starter Greg Swindell (10-5) for nine hits and five runs before he left after six innings.

The Braves are 0-6 against the Reds at Riverfront Stadium, but 6-1 at home this season. It was the Braves’ first sweep of the Reds at Atlanta since 1982.

Cincinnati’s Bip Roberts, hospitalized after sustaining a neck sprain and mild concussion Wednesday night when he ran into the center-field fence attempting to catch David Justice’s two-run triple, was in uniform but unable to play.

Pittsburgh 3, St. Louis 2--The Pirates, winning their seventh in a row, scored twice in the top of the 13th inning at St. Louis to end the Cardinals’ three-game winning streak.

Barry Bonds singled with one out in the 13th against Lee Smith (3-5) and stole second uncontested with two out. He scored on a close play at the plate when Jeff King singled to left. King went to second on the throw home and scored on Jose Lind’s single.

In the bottom of the 13th, Felix Jose hit his 10th homer with two out.

Montreal 7, Philadelphia 4--Delino DeShields drove in four runs with a three-run homer and a solo shot, leading the Expos past the slumping Phillies at Philadelphia.

It was the first two-homer game for DeShields, who leads the league in runs scored with 73. In the 41 games since DeShields was moved to the leadoff spot, he is batting .399 (65 for 163).

Ken Hill (13-5) gave up four runs and eight hits over 5 1/3 innings in winning for the eighth time in his last nine decisions. John Wetteland, the fourth Expo pitcher, got the last three outs for his 26th save.

Chicago 5, New York 2--Greg Maddux pitched a six-hitter, and hot-hitting Derrick May drove in two runs at Chicago as the Cubs handed the slumping Mets their third consecutive loss.

Maddux (14-9) walked two and struck out eight in pitching his sixth complete game and winning for the fourth time in five starts. He has averaged eight innings in four starts against New York this season.