Nothing Reserved About Dye’s First At-Bat For Atlanta

National League

Greg Maddux won for the first time in three weeks and Jermaine Dye, subbing for injured David Justice, homered in his first major-league at-bat, leading the Atlanta Braves over the Cincinnati Reds 8-2 Friday in Atlanta.

Dye became the 71st player to hit a homer in his first big league at-bat. He entered the game as a defensive replacement in the outfield in the top of the fifth inning, then hit a solo homer in the bottom half for a 7-2 lead.

Padres 2, Expos 1 (12)

San Diego

Brian Johnson homered with one out in the bottom of the 12th, lifting San Diego over Montreal in a meeting of division leaders.

Cubs 3, Marlins 1

Chicago

Jim Bullinger allowed four hits over eight innings and Ryne Sandberg hit a two-run homer to lead Chicago.

Dodgers 6, Phillies 3

Los Angeles

Mike Piazza and Raul Mondesi homered in the fourth, leading Hideo Nomo and Los Angeles past Philadelphia for its fourth straight victory.

The combination of Piazza, Mondesi and Nomo, the last three N.L. rookies of the year, helped send rookie Mike Grace to his first loss of the season. Grace (6-1) allowed five runs and six hits in 4-2/3 innings.

Astros 4, Pirates 2

Houston

Pinch-hitter Derrick May hit a two-run homer and Brian Hunter followed with a solo shot in the eighth to rally Houston.

Mets vs. Giants, ppd.

San Francisco

Rain forced the postponement of the game between New York and San Francisco. The game never began. No makeup date was announced.

Rockies 12, Cardinals 11

Denver

Pinch-hitter Pedro Castellano lined an RBI single in the eighth, lifting Colorado to a win over St. Louis.

Clearing the bases

Braves pitcher Maddux has not lost three straight decisions since the middle of the 1993 season. He is 48-1 when receiving five or more runs since June 16, 1991. … Astros catcher Jerry Goff, who tied a major-league record with six passed balls in a game last week, cleared waivers and was reassigned to Houston’s Triple-A farm team in Tucson, Ariz. The Astros purchased backup catcher Randy Knorr from the Toronto Blue Jays to replace Goff on the roster.

Dodgers shortstop Greg Gagne sprained his left ankle going for Jim Eisenreich’s RBI single up the middle. He finished the inning before Chad Fonville was sent up to bat for him. … With his first career victory over the Phillies, Nomo has now beaten every N.L. opponent. … Padres third baseman Ken Caminiti took batting practice only from the right side and hopes to play tonight.