National League Roundup : Pirates’ Reed Pinches Off Mets in First Start, 1-0

Two years ago, Rick Reed was an overweight, once-a-week sandlot pitcher in Huntington, W.Va., wondering what it would be like to play organized ball.

On Monday night, Reed shut out the New York Mets on three hits over eight innings in his major league debut to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 1-0 victory at Pittsburgh.

Reed, who has pitched on every level of organized baseball but rookie ball this season, enabled the Pirates to end a season-high five-game losing streak by beating the first-place Mets for only the fourth time in 14 games. The Pirates moved into sole possession of second place in the East, 6 games behind the Mets.

“I’ve been pinching myself to believe this is true,� said Reed, who began the season at the Class-A level.

Pittsburgh scored in the fourth inning off Bob Ojeda (8-10) when Jose Lind came home on Bobby Bonilla’s groundout. Lind, who was 2 for 3, legged out an infield roller, stole second, and took third on catcher Gary Carter’s wild throw.

The right-handed Reed, 24, who was 11-3 in the minor leagues this season, didn’t allow a batter past second base. The Mets never had more than one baserunner in an inning.

“I keep telling myself this isn’t real, it can’t be happening, but it did,� said Reed, who weighed 225 pounds when he signed in 1986, but lost 30 pounds in two weeks to get into pitching shape.

Jim Gott replaced Reed in the ninth and earned his 18th save by retiring New York in order.

The Pirates lost 12 of their previous 16 games. The Mets won 6 of 8 games in the two series the teams have played the last two weeks.

St. Louis 4, Montreal 2--Bob Forsch pitched his longest outing of the year and drove in the go-ahead run to defeat the Expos at St. Louis.

Forsch (6-3) gave up 1 run on 6 hits, struck out 2 and walked 1 in 6 innings. With one out in the fifth, Forsch singled up the middle off Pascual Perez (8-6) to score Mike Laga from third. It was Forsch’s first RBI of the season.

St. Louis got five consecutive singles and batted around in that fifth inning, scoring three runs to take a 4-1 lead.

Montreal dropped to third place in the East, a half-game behind the Pirates. The Cardinals averted a sweep in the four-game series.

Perez, who entered the game with the best earned-run average among major league starters at 2.19, allowed four runs on seven hits, struck out three and walked none in six innings.

San Francisco 5, Atlanta 2--Kevin Mitchell highlighted a five-run third inning with a two-run double and four pitchers combined on a four-hitter to give the Giants a victory over the Braves at Atlanta.

Ron Davis (1-1), who relieved starter Joe Price after four innings, got his first NL win, holding the Braves hitless in two innings, striking out two and walking none. Price allowed two hits but walked four.

Craig Lefferts worked two innings and gave up two hits before giving way to Scott Garrelts, who pitched the ninth inning for his 10th save.

The Giants got all five runs in the third inning off three hits and five walks. Atlanta took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI double by Dale Murphy.