NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Sign of the Times: Dawson, Maddux Lead Cubs

Even with Andre Dawson and Greg Maddux, the Chicago Cubs are 75-75. Imagine how they might be next season if both become free agents and leave.

Monday night at New York, Dawson and Maddux delivered again. Dawson got his 2,500th hit and Maddux matched a career-high with his 19th victory as the Cubs beat the Mets, 10-1.

Dawson singled twice and became the 69th player to get 2,500 hits. He wants to stay in Chicago, but has been disappointed that the Cubs haven’t shown more interest in re-signing him.

“I was letting it affect me recently,” Dawson said. “It was affecting the way I played and my family. It wasn’t worth it. So now I’m just trying to stay focused on the field, finish out these last two weeks and then I probably won’t think about baseball again until after the holidays.”

Maddux (19-11) turned down a five-year, $28-million offer earlier this season. He is waiting see what will happen after he files for free agency.

“I’ve had some sleepless nights, wondering if I did the right thing,” he said. “I’ve learned to deal with it. I don’t even think about it now.”

The Cubs made it easy for Maddux, building a nine-run lead in the fifth inning. That included home runs by Ryne Sandberg, his 25th, and Luis Salazar.

Pittsburgh 3, St. Louis 0--Rookie Steve Cooke pitched seven innings of three-hit relief at Pittsburgh after Bob Walk reinjured himself as the Pirates won for the seventh time in eight games.

Walk and Cooke combined on the Pirates’ 18th shutout of the season--second best in the majors to Atlanta’s 21--and Pittsburgh beat St. Louis for the 13th time in a row. That dropped the Pirates’ magic number for another East title to seven.

Cooke who was 1-1 with a 6.39 ERA his first seven major league appearances, limited the Cardinals to two singles after replacing Walk to start the third. Walk, who has been on the disabled list twice this season with a strained right groin, aggravated the injury while covering first base on a grounder in the second inning.

Philadelphia 9, Montreal 2--Darren Daulton hit the third grand slam of his career and John Kruk drove in three runs at Montreal as the Expos lost their third in a row and fell seven games behind Pittsburgh.

Ben Rivera shut down the Expos’ offense with a four-hitter. That helped the Phillies break a six-game losing streak.

“It was our easiest loss of the season,” Montreal Manager Felipe Alou said.

San Francisco 7, San Diego 1--Rookie Craig Colbert hit a two-run homer, his first in the major leagues, to highlight a four-run sixth inning at San Diego.

Another rookie, Ted Wood, also hit his first major league homer, a solo shot in the ninth.

With scheduled starter John Burkett sidelined with a stiff neck, four San Francisco pitchers combined for a nine-hitter that sent the Padres to their fourth consecutive loss. Bryan Hickerson, usually a middle reliever, pitched four shutout innings in his first start of the season. Mike Jackson then went three innings for the victory before Steve Reed worked the eighth and Dave Righetti finished.