Valenzuela Notches Eighth Win In Row

National League

The St. Louis Cardinals ran into a pitcher who was just as streaky as they were.

Fernando Valenzuela won his eighth straight decision and Wally Joyner hit a three-run homer as the visiting San Diego Padres won 5-4 Sunday, ending the Cardinals’ eight-game winning string.

The win moved the Padres into a virtual tie for first with Los Angeles. The Dodgers lead by .5493 to .5486.

“If we ever needed a well-pitched game, it was today,” Padres manager Bruce Bochy said. “He came through with a great effort.”

The N.L. Central-leading Cardinals had scored 57 runs on 80 hits in their previous six games of the streak, their longest since 1987.

But Valenzuela (13-7) limited them to two runs and five hits in seven innings. He’s undefeated in his last 10 starts with a 2.52 ERA in that span, and has his longest winning streak since 1985.

“Once again, Fernando was unbelievable,” Tony Gwynn said.

Pirates 4, Dodgers 1

Los Angeles

Orlando Merced cleared the bases with a three-run pinch-double in the ninth inning as Pittsburgh beat Los Angeles.

The loss, coupled with San Diego’s victory at Houston, erased the Dodgers’ one-game lead in the N.L. West.

Rockies 5, Astros 2

Houston

Dante Bichette’s double highlighted a three-run ninth inning that sent Colorado past Houston.

The Rockies won for the only the fourth time in their 17 road games. The loss kept Houston 1-1/2 games behind St. Louis in the N.L. Central.

Marlins 2, Expos 1

Miami

Gary Sheffield hit his 41st home run and Rick Helling pitched seven strong innings in his first National League start to lead Florida past Montreal.

Florida trailed 1-0 when Sheffield homered following Edgar Renteria’s single in the fifth inning against Pedro Martinez (12-10). Sheffield moved into a tie with Colorado’s Andres Galarraga for the N.L. lead in home runs.

Mets 6, Braves 2

Atlanta

Todd Hundley hit his 40th home run, tying Roy Campanella’s major league record for homers by a catcher, and New York beat Greg Maddux and Atlanta.

Mark Clark (13-11), the winningest Mets pitcher, halted a personal two-game losing streak. He allowed four hits in eight innings, struck out five and walked three.

Jason Hardtke doubled twice and scored twice in his major league debut.

Cubs 5, Phillies 3

Philadelphia

Jaime Navarro won his eighth straight decision and Scott Servais drove in three runs as Chicago defeated Philadelphia.

Navarro (15-9) allowed one earned run in six innings. He has not lost since July 16 at Pittsburgh and is 9-1 since the All-Star break.

Reds 8, Giants 3

Cincinnati

Barry Larkin and Eddie Taubensee homered in a five-run eighth inning that carried Cincinnati to victory over slumping San Francisco.

Cincinnati blew a 3-1 lead in the top of the eighth as Jeff Shaw (7-5) gave up a two-run infield single to Rick Wilkins. But Larkin hit his 27th homer off Jose Bautista (3-4) with one out in the bottom of the inning to put the Reds ahead and start a nine-batter rally.

Clearing the bases

Marlins pitchers lead the major leagues with 11 shutouts. Ten of those have come at home. … New York’s Lance Johnson has 197 hits and could become the first National Leaguer with 200 hits in a season since Tony Gwynn had 203 in 1989.

One consolation about Scott Rolen’s season-ending broken forearm: He had exactly 130 at-bats, meaning he will be eligible for the rookie of the year award in 1997. The Phillies third baseman was sidelined Saturday when he was hit by a pitch. players may not exceed 130 at-bats to be considered a rookie.

Ray Lankford’s streak of 18 consecutive steals for St. Louis ended in the fifth when he broke too early and Fernando Valenzuela threw to first. … Right fielder Reggie Sanders of Cincinnati tried to throw for the first time since tearing a ligament in his right thumb, but couldn’t. It was another indication he’s out for the season.

Jeff Bagwell matched the Astros record of 44 doubles set by Rusty Staub in 1967 and tied by Craig Biggio in 1994. … Mike Piazza ran his hitting streak to 15 games.