NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Expos Still Look More Like Pretenders in 12-Inning Loss to Mets

Manager Bob Rodgers keeps insisting that the Montreal Expos should be counted in as the third contender in the National League East.

But every time the Expos have a chance to prove their manager right, they falter.

Zane Smith, who had a 2-0 record and an 0.56 earned-run average against the New York Mets, was in position to move the Expos within four games of first place Wednesday night at Montreal.

Smith had given up six hits and held a 4-1 lead after seven innings. But he fell apart in the eighth and the bullpen let it get away.

Gregg Jefferies, who hit the run-scoring single that chased Smith, singled in the tiebreaking run in the 12th as the Mets rallied to win, 6-4, to regain sole possession of first place.

The Mets pulled even in dramatic fashion. With two out in the ninth, they trailed, 4-3. The only nonpitcher remaining for Manager Bud Harrelson was Tim Teufel, who responded with a home run off reliever Tim Burke.

The Mets had 18 hits. Jefferies, celebrating his 23rd birthday, Keith Miller and Kevin McReynolds had three hits.

Bob Ojeda, who pitched the last two innings for the Mets, was the winning pitcher.

Bill Sampen (8-4) was the loser, giving up four hits in a third of an inning.

Cincinnati 6, San Diego 3--Although their lead in the West was cut almost in half during their trip to California, it could have been worse for the Reds.

They headed home with optimism despite a 3-8 trip. Tuesday night, they exploited the Dodgers’ defense to end their eight-game losing streak. Wednesday at San Diego, Chris Sabo and Eric Davis paced a 14-hit attack that sent them home with a two-game winning streak.

Sabo hit his 19th home run and Davis had three hits and drove in two runs to help Scott Scudder improve to 3-4.

“I know we struggled on the trip,” Manager Lou Piniella said, “but I wasn’t worried because we never lost our intensity.”

Jack Clark hit his 19th home run for the Padres. He has hit five in the past seven games.

Chicago 5, Pittsburgh 0--Greg Maddux pitched a five-hitter at Chicago for his fourth consecutive victory as the Cubs prevented the Pirates from taking over first place.

Luis Salazar hit a two-run home run and a double to pace the Cubs.

Before his winning streak, Maddux (8-9) had failed to win in 13 starts. “I pitched very well in some of those losses,” Maddux said. “I didn’t give up because I knew I could win.”

Philadelphia 11, St. Louis 10--Lenny Dykstra led off the first inning at Philadelphia with a home run and the Phillies built a 9-2 lead.

But the Cardinals scored eight times in the last three innings and fell a run short.

Willie McGee doubled in the sixth inning to extend his hitting streak to 22 games.