Sub Makes Giant Impact On Mets

National League

The Mets figured Barry Bonds would practice his home-run trot. He did. They assumed red-hot Matt Williams would reach the bleachers. He did. But no one, least of all pitcher Dave Mlicki, figured Steve Scarsone - yes, that Steve Scarsone - would play the role of late-inning longball hero.

But he did. And that, coupled with yet another day of offensive ineptitude, spelled doom for the Mets.

Scarsone, subbing for injured second baseman Robby Thompson, stroked his sixth home run in 259 big-league at-bats in the eighth inning and drove the pivotal nail in the Mets’ coffin as the Giants triumphed 5-1 Sunday in the rubber game of a three-game series at New York.

Padres 13, Phils 5 (10)

Philadelphia

San Diego tied a league record by scoring nine times in the 10th inning, and the run procession started with Eddie Williams making the right guess.

Williams anticipated a first-pitch fastball and rapped a bases-loaded two-run single off Gene Harris to snap a 4-4 tie and send the Padres on to victory over Philadelphia.

Reds 9, Cardinals 2

St. Louis

Cincinnati became the latest team to beat up on Danny Jackson (0-6), getting homers from Reggie Sanders and Brian Hunter to defeat St. Louis and stretch its winning streak to seven games.

The Reds added seven doubles and finished with 14 hits. Cincinnati has won 19 of its last 22 games; the Cardinals have lost 10 of 13.

Cubs 13, Marlins 8

Chicago

Howard Johnson broke out of a slump with two homers and a single, and Chicago had eight hits in a six-run fifth inning on its way to victory over hapless Florida.

Johnson’s first homer, a three-run shot in the fourth, snapped an 0-for-21 slump dating back to April 30. It was his first homer since last July 5 when he hit one for Colorado against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Expos 5, Dodgers 1

Montreal

Rondell White’s first career grand slam helped Jeff Fassero notch his league-leading sixth victory and sent Hideo Nomo to his first loss as Montreal downed Los Angeles.

Montreal’s three-game sweep of the Dodgers raised its record to 28-5 against Los Angeles since the start of the 1990 season, including seven straight wins at home.

Braves 3, Astros 1

Houston

Greg Maddux pitched the best game of his career, throwing a one-hitter to lead Atlanta to its victory over Houston.

The only hit off Maddux was Jeff Bagwell’s homer leading off the eighth inning. Maddux had retired 20 consecutive batters at that point and had allowed only one baserunner. That was on an error in the second inning.

Rockies 6, Pirates 3

Pittsburgh

Mike Kingery and Vinny Castilla hit home runs and Marvin Freeman stayed undefeated in his career against Pittsburgh as Colorado ended a four-game losing streak.

Kingery led off the third inning with his third home run and Castilla’s sixth followed a single by Dante Bichette.

Clearing the bases

The Cubs are 19-10, matching their best start through 29 games since 1975. Last season, they started 9-20… . Ozzie Smith, on the disabled list for only the fourth time in his career, is expected to announce he will undergo surgery to correct a shoulder injury before the Cardinals end their homestand on Wednesday… . San Diego has not had a 1-2-3 first inning in the last 11 games. Opponents have scored in seven of those games, getting 15 runs.