Mitchell Leads Reds’ 22-8 Win

Kevin Mitchell drove in a career-high six runs and pinch-hitter Lenny Harris hit a grand slam Saturday night at Cincinnati as the Reds rallied to a 22-8 victory that snapped the Florida Marlins’ seven-game winning streak.

The Reds overcame a 5-0 deficit after the first inning by hitting five homers and taking advantage of 11 walks. Three of the homers were off reliever Chris Hammond, who gave up eight hits and seven runs in 1 2/3 innings.

Mitchell’s three-run single completed a seven-run second inning that put the Reds ahead to stay, and he added a three-run homer in the seventh off Hammond, his fourth.

Willie Greene started the Reds’ comeback by hitting a three-run homer in the second inning off starter Kurt Miller (1-2), who lasted only 1 1/3 innings.

The 22 runs were the most the Marlins have allowed in their four-year history.

Montreal 4, San Diego 2--Omar Daal won his first major-league start, combining with two relievers on a four-hitter, as the Expos ended San Diego’s six-game winning streak at Montreal.

F.P. Santangelo hit an RBI triple in the fourth off Bob Tewksbury (10-9) for a 1-0 lead and Mark Grudzielanek’s run-scoring double in the sixth gave Montreal a 4-0 cushion.

Daal (3-2), who has pitched 61 innings in 57 games as a reliever, allowed one hit in five innings.

Chicago 12, Atlanta 0--Frank Castillo (7-14) allowed two hits in 6 2/3 innings and the Cubs spoiled Denny Neagle’s Atlanta debut at Chicago.

Brian McRae hit a two-run homer in the third inning off Neagle, who left trailing, 3-0, after 5 2/3 innings. But the Cubs routed relievers Brad Clontz and Dean Hartgraves, with Luis Gonzalez and Ozzie Timmons homering off Hartgraves.

Neagle (14-7), acquired Wednesday from Pittsburgh, gave up three hits in 5 2/3 innings.

St. Louis 2, Colorado 1--Andy Benes allowed four hits in eight innings and Ray Lankford hit a two-run homer for the Cardinals at St. Louis.

Benes (15-9) avenged a poor performance against Denver on Aug. 21, when the Rockies hammered him for 13 hits and seven runs in 2 2/3 innings.

In the Cardinals’ fourth, Ozzie Smith led off with a walk and Lankford followed with his 21st home run.

Houston 5, Pittsburgh 4--Pinch-hitter Tony Eusebio hit a two-run single to cap a three-run ninth inning for the Astros, who ruined Francisco Cordova’s first major league start at Pittsburgh.

With Houston trailing, 3-2, following Jermaine Allensworth’s go-ahead homer in the eighth, Jeff Bagwell and Derek Bell quickly tied it with consecutive doubles off John Ericks (3-4).

James Mouton’s opposite-field single to right and Derrick May’s walk preceded Eusebio’s ground single up the middle, his third hit in nine at-bats as a pinch-hitter.

New York 7, San Francisco 2--The Mets gave new Manager Bobby Valentine his first victory in five games at New York.

Roberto Petagine and Alvaro Espinoza hit consecutive homers in the sixth inning for the Mets, who had lost three one-run games since Valentine took over for the fired Dallas Green.

Robert Person (3-5) won, allowing one run in 5 2/3 innings.

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20-Run Games in 1996

* 26: Texas (26) vs. Baltimore (7)--April 19

* 24: Minnesota (24) at Detroit (11)--April 24

* 22: Cincinnati (22) vs. Florida (8)--August 31

* 21: Montreal (21) at Colorado (9)--April 28

* 20: Chi. White Sox (20) at Milwaukee (8)--May 15

* 20: Milwaukee (20) vs. Detroit (7)--July 16

* 20: San Diego (20) at Florida (12)--July 27