National League Roundup : Galarraga, Expos Slash Cardinals’ Lead to 4 1/2

Andres Galarraga, whose run-scoring single with two out in the ninth inning sent the game into extra innings, hit a home run with two out in the 13th Wednesday night at Montreal to give the Expos a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Expos’ second come-from-behind win over the Cardinals in a row has made a three-team race of the National League East, which the Cardinals threatened to turn into a runaway a few weeks ago.

With the second-place New York Mets beating Philadelphia, the Cardinals’ lead, once 9 1/2 games, dwindled to 4 1/2. The Expos are just 5 games behind.

The Cardinals, who were pulling out the close ones for more than half a season, have been losing them lately.

They broke up a scoreless duel between Bob Forsch and Dennis Martinez in the seventh inning when Terry Pendleton’s bloop single scored Ozzie Smith from second base.

Forsch was working on a four-hitter going into the ninth. He retired the first two batters, but after Hubie Brooks singled, Manager Whitey Herzog brought in bullpen ace Todd Worrell. Tim Wallach singled and Galarraga singled home Brooks to tie it.

With two out in the 13th, Galarraga hit an 0-2 pitch thrown by Ken Dayley over the center-field fence for his ninth home run.

Last week, the Expos thought Galarraga would need knee surgery and would miss the rest of the season. But he sat out four games and has been able to make a big contribution when needed most.

“All I was thinking about when I came up in the 13th was swinging the bat real hard,” Galarraga said. “He threw me a fastball, and when I hit it I wasn’t sure if it would go out. But it did. That was the biggest hit of my life.”

Herzog was full of praise for the Expos’ young first baseman.

“He is one heck of a first baseman that kid,” Herzog said. “He reminds me a lot of the great Gil Hodges with those great hands of his.”

New York 13, Philadelphia 3--Gary Carter hit two home runs and doubled, driving in four runs in a rain-delayed game at New York to help the onrushing Mets score their fifth victory in a row.

The Mets completed a three-game sweep of the Phillies in a game delayed for more than two hours by rain.

Darryl Strawberry hit a three-run homer for the Mets, who haven’t been this close to first place since May 15.

Houston 6, San Francisco 5--The Giants built a 5-0 lead in the fifth inning at Houston, but the Astros rallied to win when pinch-hitter Denny Walling singled home Gerald Young from third base with one out in the 11th.

The Astros scored one in the sixth, two more in the eighth and tied the score with two out in the ninth when umpire Dutch Rennert ruled that right fielder Chili Davis trapped Kevin Bass’ line drive with the bases loaded. Billy Hatcher scored from third and Bill Doran scored from second on the hit to tie the score.

Young led off the 11th with a check-swing double and took third on a sacrifice. The loss was the fourth in a row for the Giants and dropped them five games behind the Cincinnati Reds in the West.

San Diego 7, Atlanta 3--At Atlanta, Rich Gossage earned his 286th save by retiring the last four Braves and moved into a second- place tie with Bruce Sutter on the all-time list.

It was the eighth save this season for Gossage, but he has a long way to go to catch the leader. Rollie Fingers had 341 saves.

Stan Jefferson hit a three-run home run to climax a five-run second-inning rally against Doyle Alexander (5-9) and enable Jimmy Jones to even his record at 4-4.

Pittsburgh 10, Chicago 0--Brian Fisher, who flopped as a relief pitcher, has won a job in the Pirates’ rotation.

The former member of the New York Yankee bullpen improved his record to 7-6 at Pittsburgh by shutting out the Cubs for the second time this season.

The Pirates have beaten the Cubs nine times in 12 meetings this season. It was only the Pirates’ second win in their last 14 games against Eastern Division rivals.