NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Avery Looks Sharp as Braves Take Over First by Beating Giants

Some of the foundation for the Atlanta Braves’ success was laid during the team’s poor showing last season.

A case in point is Steve Avery, who pitched and batted the Braves into first place in the National League West Tuesday night. Avery, who gave up only three hits in 8 2/3 innings, also had three hits and drove in a run in the 4-1 victory over the slumping San Francisco Giants.

With the Braves firmly entrenched in last place last season, they brought up Avery, a 20-year-old, 6-foot-4 left-hander, in mid-June. The thought was to give Avery a chance in the majors under minimal pressure.

It was strictly a learning process. Avery showed flashes of brilliance but was 3-11 with an earned-run average of 5.64.

Avery learned quickly. This season, he won five of his first six decisions and has been one of the anchors of the young staff.

With this victory, he snapped out of a mild slump. In his previous five starts, he had three defeats, one victory and a no-decision.

In two previous outings against the Giants, he was 0-2 with an ERA of 12.79.

But he had the Giants under control in this one until he tired in the ninth. Alejandro Pena came in to get the final out with two Giants on base.

Ron Gant and David Justice singled in runs for the Braves, and Terry Pendleton made it 3-1 with his 19th home run in the fifth.

“We’re there now,” Manager Bobby Cox said. “There was no yelling in the clubhouse. We’ve got to try to hold it.”

The Braves, who were 9 1/2 games behind the Dodgers at the All-Star break, caught them Aug. 27 and were two games up three days later. Then the Dodgers forged back on top six days later.

“They’re (Dodgers) talking the last few days. I think they’re trying to intimidate us,” Avery said. “That’s fine, but all we have to worry about is ourselves.”

Manager Roger Craig, who said his Giants were in the race a month ago, saw his team drop 12 games below .500. He is impressed by the Braves. “They’re on a roll,” he said. “It seems like everything they do is right. It’s hard to beat a club like that.”

San Diego 7, Houston 6--With Tim Teufel hitting a three-run home run at Houston, the Padres won their seventh in a row. They trail Atlanta by 7 1/2 games.

The Astros scored more runs in the game than the Padres gave up in the first six games of the winning streak. The San Diego pitchers gave up only five runs during the six victories.

Benito Santiago went four for four, scored a run and drove in three as the Padres spoiled the debut of Chris Gardner. He gave up six hits and six runs in five innings.

Fred McGriff hit his 27th home run for the Padres. Tony Gwynn, the league’s leading hitter was hitless in five at-bats, dropping to .319.

The crowd was 4,353, the lowest of the season for the Astros.

Chicago 6, Pittsburgh 2--Ryne Sandberg hit a two-run home run in the first inning at Chicago and Rick Sutcliffe (5-4) pitched a solid 7 2/3 innings. The Pirates, 6-5 in their last 11 games, have a 9 1/2-game lead over St. Louis and have only 24 games remaining. Their magic number is 16.

Philadelphia 5, St. Louis 2--The Phillies hit the Cardinals’ Rheal Cormier for 10 hits and all their runs in six innings. Tommy Greene (10-7) earned the victory.

The Cardinals had beaten the Phillies five times in a row at St. Louis.