National League Roundup : Padres Win on Clark’s Pinch-Hit Single in 12th

Jack Clark, removed from the starting lineup because of a batting slump, slapped a pinch-hit single to left field in the 12th inning to score Mark Parent from second base and give the San Diego Padres a 1-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds Thursday at San Diego.

The game-winning hit ended an 0-for-20 stretch for Clark, and the Padres won their second straight after losing seven in a row.

“It was good for me to be out for a couple of days,” Clark said. “It was a situation where I could get away from baseball and watch everybody else play. I didn’t have to do anything. It was like I was not supposed to be at the stadium.”

Clark pinch-hit with runners at first and second and one out in the 12th. The Reds responded by bringing on their fifth pitcher of the game, Kent Tekulve, to replace Tim Birtsas (2-1). Tekulve’s first two pitches were called strikes, but the count went to 3-and-2 before Clark connected.

“The pitch was where I wanted it,” Tekulve said. “That’s the pitch he’s been swinging at and missing, a slider just off the plate. On a 3-2 pitch, you can’t put it in a much better spot.”

For the Padres, Greg Harris (2-2) earned the victory by striking out four in two innings. He relieved Bruce Hurst, who pitched 10 innings, allowing eight hits and a walk, and striking out 10.

Cincinnati starter Tom Browning, seeking his fourth victory in five decisions, worked seven innings, striking out four and walking one. Over his last six games, Browning has allowed only eight earned runs in 43 innings.

Atlanta 2, San Francisco 1--At San Francisco, John Smoltz allowed seven hits and Lonnie Smith hit a homer run as the Braves snapped their six-game losing streak and ended the Giants’ five-game winning streak.

Smoltz (8-5) struck out nine and walked two in his third complete game of the year. Scott Garrelts (5-2) took the loss.

Smoltz’s performance was just what Atlanta Manager Russ Nixon needed after his team began a West Coast trip with an 0-5 record.

“That was Moses parting the waters. He’s an All-Star,” Nixon said.

Smoltz, acquired as a minor leaguer from the Detroit Tigers in a trade for Doyle Alexander two years ago, was 2-7 with a 5.48 ERA as a rookie. This year he has a 2.33 ERA and has limited opposing batters to a .192 average, tops in the National League.

New York 4, Chicago 3--Gregg Jefferies singled home the winning run with two outs in the 12th inning, ending a five-hour night in the rain and leading the Mets over the Cubs at New York.

The game was delayed for a total of 1 hour 31 minutes and finally finished at 1:24 a.m. EDT. It was held up for 33 minutes after the third inning and for 58 minutes in the fourth.

Dave Magadan’s two-out, two-run single gave the Mets a 3-3 tie in the ninth inning.

St. Louis 4, Montreal 3--Pinch-hitter Tom Pagnozzi singled home Milt Thompson with one out in the 10th inning, giving the Cardinals a comeback victory at St. Louis.

Pagnozzi’s hit to right field came off Andy McGaffigan (1-3), after Tony Pena’s two-out triple tied it for St. Louis in the ninth. Pagnozzi’s single gave the win to Todd Worrell (1-1), as the Cardinals erased the Expos’ early 3-1 lead.

Pittsburgh 5, Philadelphia 3--Gary Redus and Jose Lind hit solo home runs to back Doug Drabek’s six-hit pitching over seven innings as the Pirates survived three rain delays to defeat the Phillies at Pittsburgh.

Drabek (4-5) shrugged off rain delays totaling two hours to win his third consecutive decision since ending a five-game losing streak May 25. He struck out seven, despite allowing solo homers to Randy Ready and Juan Samuel.