NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Rally in Seventh Moves Cubs Past Braves, 6-3

The Chicago Cubs rallied for four runs in the seventh inning Friday to defeat the Atlanta Braves, 6-3, avoiding a repeat of opening day.

On April 5, Greg Maddux and the Braves defeated Mike Morgan and the Cubs, 1-0. But Friday’s game at Chicago had a different ending.

The Cubs, trailing, 3-2, hammered reliever Mike Stanton (4-5) in the seventh--Derrick May driving in the tying run on a short sacrifice fly, Rick Wilkins singling in the lead run and Jose Vizcaino capping the rally with a two-run single.

The loss ended Atlanta’s nine-game road winning streak.

Maddux allowed seven hits and two runs in six innings and appeared destined to be a winner again when Sid Bream singled to give the Braves a 3-2 lead in the seventh.

“We should have won the game, but the pen didn’t do the job. ,” said Brave manager Bobby Cox. “Everything was perfect and Mike had good stuff, but his location wasn’t there.”

Morgan (8-11) pitched 7 1/3 innings, allowing nine hits, striking out six and walking two.

“I could have pitched better, but it has been a funny year for me,” Morgan said. “Jose Vizcaino got the big hit with two out. That made the difference in the game.”

Maddux said: “I didn’t locate (pitches) as well as I’d like to, but give them credit for coming back. They executed well with the hit-and-run and played good defense.”

Philadelphia 6, Houston 4--Kevin Stocker’s three-run eighth-inning triple rallied the Phillies and enabled them to remain unbeaten this season at Houston.

The Phillies are 4-0 in the Astrodome and have won eight of their last 11 games.

The Phillies trailed, 4-3, before coming back in the eighth.

A single by John Kruk and a walk to Dave Hollins brought on Al Osuna in relief of Todd Jones (0-1). One out later, Xavier Hernandez relieved Osuna and walked pinch-hitter Wes Chamberlain to load the bases before Stocker’s liner to center eluded Steve Finley and rolled to the wall.

The Astros had moved ahead, 3-2, in the fifth when Finley tripled and Jeff Bagwell grounded out to second. Houston took its 4-3 lead on Finley’s single in the seventh.

Philadelphia starter Curt Schilling gave up eight hits while striking out eight and walking three in 6 1/3 innings. Reliever Dave West (6-3) worked the final 2 2/3 innings.

The loss snapped a three-game winning steak for the Astros.

Cincinnati 4, Montreal 2--Tim Costo doubled home two runs in the eighth inning as the Reds won at Cincinnati for only their second victory in 10 games.

Hal Morris and Chris Sabo singled to start the inning. Reggie Sanders sacrificed. Then Costo doubled off reliever Mel Rojas (4-8) to make a winner of reliever Jeff Reardon (3-4).

Cincinnati starter Jose Rijo, the National League strikeout leader, fanned four in seven innings to reach a career high of 178, two more than he had for Oakland in 1986. But he also let the go-ahead run score in the sixth inning when he failed to back up third base.

Rijo had just completed a double play, making a behind-the-back catch of a ball hit by Larry Walker and throwing to first to double off John Vander Wal.

Next, Darrin Fletcher doubled, Moises Alou walked and Lansing singled. Fletcher scored easily, with no one backing up the errant throw from Costo in left field. Alou also scored when the ball bounced to the backstop.