Reds Break 3-Game Skid Against Expos

National League

Pete Schourek gave up two homers, then doubled to start the go-ahead rally Monday night as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Montreal Expos 7-4 at Riverfront Stadium to emerge from a three-game losing streak.

The Reds won for only the fourth time in 11 games, reducing their clinching number in the N.L. Central to three. The Expos tied an N.L. record by using eight pitchers, but lost for the fourth straight time to fall 10 games under .500 (61-71) for the first time since 1991.

Schourek (17-7), tentatively scheduled to start the Reds’ first playoff game, struggled to join Atlanta’s Greg Maddux as the league’s only 17-game winners.

The left-hander gave up solo homers to Yamil Benitez and Rondell White and an RBI single to Mark Grudzielanek that put the Expos up 3-2 in the fifth.

Cardinals 4, Pirates 2

Pittsburgh

Donovan Osborne won his third consecutive start after going 16 without a victory, leading St. Louis over Pittsburgh.

Osborne (3-6) had gone from Aug. 18, 1993 to Sept. 8 without a victory, losing seven decisions in the 16 starts. He missed all last season after undergoing reconstructive surgery on his shoulder and spent nearly two months on the disabled list this year because of a sore left elbow.

Astros 3, Cubs 1

Houston

Rookie Donne Wall won his second consecutive game, going 7-2/3 strong innings to lift Houston over Chicago.

Wall (2-1), who joined the Astros after being named Pacific Coast League player of the year, didn’t allow a run until the fourth when Mark Grace tied his career high with his 14th homer.

Braves 7, Mets 1

Atlanta

Steve Avery ended a four-game losing streak by scattering four hits and Atlanta scored six runs in the third inning to coast past New York.

The win was Atlanta’s fifth straight and snapped the Mets’ winning streak at five.

Avery (7-13) had lost four straight decisions and was 2-8 since July 26. The left-hander walked two and struck out eight.

Phillies 13, Marlins 10

Philadelphia

Charlie Hayes had three hits and two RBIs and Tom Marsh had his first four-hit game as Philadelphia beat Florida.

Florida’s Gary Sheffield had two homers and a career-high seven RBIs. His three-run homer in the sixth was his eight consecutive hit over two games, a club record.

Florida tied an N.L. record by using eight pitchers in a nine-inning game.

Rockies 5, Padres 1

San Diego

Kevin Ritz allowed three hits over 7-2/3 innings to break a five-game losing streak as Colorado increased its lead in the N.L. West with a victory over San Diego.

Ritz (10-10), who last won on July 28 at Montreal, struck out five and walked one. The only run he allowed was in the eighth when Archi Cianfrocco reached on an error by third baseman Vinny Castilla and scored on Brad Ausmus’ double.

Clearing the bases

San Diego third baseman Ken Caminiti was named the N.L. player of the week after hitting four homers and becoming the first player in the league ever to hit homers from both sides of the plate in consecutive games. He batted .542… . Montreal put pitcher Hector Fajardo on the disqualified list and called up pitcher J.J. Thobe from Triple-A Ottawa… . In a brief pre-game presentation with fireworks, Atlanta unveiled a banner in right-center field proclaiming the Braves as 1995 N.L. East champions. Atlanta clinched the title last week on the road.