Mets’ Shoddy Pen Holds Down Reds

National League

Todd Hundley hit a pair of two-run homers, Bernard Gilkey added a two-run shot, and the New York Mets’ much-maligned bullpen held the Cincinnati Reds scoreless over the final six innings Friday night in a 9-4 win over the Reds in New York.

Jerry DiPoto (2-1) replaced starter Pete Harnisch, who left after three innings with the Reds leading 4-0. DiPoto pitched three scoreless and Dave Mlicki closed out the Reds for his first career save.

Phils 4, Rockies 3 (10)

Philadelphia

Rookie David Doster, hit in the head by a throw in the eighth inning, hit his first major league home run with two outs in the 10th.

Braves 8, Giants 7 (11)

Atlanta

Rookie Jermaine Dye doubled home Jeff Blauser with one out in 11th inning to lift Atlanta.

Marlins 4, Pirates 0

Miami

Kevin Brown pitched a five-hitter and lowered his ERA to 1.88, best in the major leagues, as Florida beat Pittsburgh.

Gary Sheffield hit a two-run double in the first inning, and Devon White added a two-run homer in the seventh.

Expos 4, Cards 3 (12)

Montreal

Shane Andrews hit a two-out RBI single in the 12th inning to lift Montreal. F.P. Santangelo hit a two-out single off Dennis Eckersley (0-5), stole second and scored when Andrews singled to left.

Astros 11, Dodgers 3

Los Angeles

Orlando Miller drove in three runs, two in a four-run first inning, and Houston went on to beat Los Angeles and move to one game ahead in the N.L. Central.

Padres 2, Cubs 1 (10)

San Diego

Jody Reed’s one-out single in the 10th lifted San Diego to a win over Chicago, snapping a five-game losing streak for the Padres.

Henderson benched

Slumping Rickey Henderson, batting just .218 going into the game, did not start for the Padres as manager Bruce Bochy shook up his lineup. Henderson entered the game as part of a double-switch in the seventh. Tony Gwynn batted leadoff for the first time since June 12, 1993, with Marc Newfield batting cleanup and replacing Henderson as the starter in left field. The move prompted Henderson to have a 25-minute, closed-door meeting with Bochy before the game.

Smith steamed

Ozzie Smith, the 41-year-old St. Louis shortstop, accused manager Tony La Russa of lying to him in spring training when he said the player who played best would get the majority of playing time in the regular season.

After Smith’s retirement announcement on Wednesday, La Russa said he and his staff had decided that Royce Clayton offered more on an everyday basis than Smith, even though Smith outhit Clayton in spring training.

“That’s bull,” Smith was quoted as saying in Friday’s edition of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “He says that now that I’ve made the announcement, and that’s not fair.

La Russa was just as angry as Smith after hearing the comments. He said he told Smith “twice to his face that the other guy was a better shortstop on an everyday basis. Royce is capable of making more plays.”