European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 01, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 26 the stars and stripes wednesday May 1,1991 j Cincinnati a a a surviving Bat anaemia by Joe Kay the associated press Cincinnati manager Lou Piniel-1a feels like he a Reading bad fiction when he scans the Cincinnati reds batting averages these  Braggs .115 Billy Hatcher .130 Mariano Duncan .138 Joe Oliver .172 Chris Sabo .206 Paul of Neill ,211 Barry Larkin .212 Todd Benzinger .229. The lineup that Tore up the National league last april has gone into a Spring freeze this year leaving the reds to survive off pitching and defense. Those commodities showcased during the no play oils and the world series have kept them in Good shape As they wait for the Olfonse to catch up. The team batting average is 67 Points lower than a year ago at this time but the record is Only three games worse 10-8 this april 13-5 a year ago. A a it a a tribute to our pitching and dc-10-8�?� Piniella said. Sense that we re a a we re fortunate things  we re doing those the defending world series champions have done a reversal this Spring. Instead of overpowering teams with offence they re scratching out close wins with pitching and defense. A year ago the reds had six hitters Over .300 after 18 games inflating the team batting average to .296. The numbers were astounding Luis Quinones .400 Sabo and Duncan .375 Larkin ,356 Benzinger .343 Hatcher .324 of Neill .294. The reds Are hitting just .229 this year. They be scored about half As Many runs a 96 to 56 a and their stolen bases Are Down from 29 to 10. A a by Home runs Are Down too. The reds hit 17 through 18 games last year. They have 12 this year and three of them came from o Neill in a weekend series against the cubs. A a a a a. Its All pretty puzzling for Pinilla who functions As one of the teams batting  a a Sabo is not going to hit .200 All year. Neither is of Neill. Or Hatcher a he said. A a a you could go on and on. A a we re going to Start hitting the Ball. Its frustrating at times watching it but that a part of tile  pitching is keeping them near the top of the no West which they led every Day last season. Cincinnati has allowed three runs or fewer in 12 of its last 14 games. The team earned run average is 3.00 a it was 3.38 a year ago. And just As Jack Armstrong emerged last Spring to Anchor the rotation Chris Hammond has become an unexpected Early Success. A. A a in a very positive a he said. A when we put everything together we can look at streaking a Little bit. Right now we re holding our Heads above water and i think we re doing a Good Job of  three a a crowd at the plate As braves John Smoltz scores cards Tom Pagnozzi Waits for throw and ump Jeny Layne removes a Bat rally prone cards win 4-3 Over Atlanta in 11 innings by the associated press. St. Louis a Ozzie Smith whose single tied the game to Cap a three run seventh inning rally hit an 1 Ltd inning sacrifice Fly that gave the cardinals a 4-3 Victory Over Atlanta monday night a everyone has a Job to do and everyone is pitching in a said Smith who helped the cardinals win for the fourth time in a final at Bat. A i was Able to get the Good part of the Bat on the  the cardinals have rallied to win in half of their 12 victories. They trailed 3-0 before Smith s infield single off first baseman Sid Breames Glove scored Geronimo Pena from second to Cap the three run  was on third when Smith lined a Patch into Center Field in the 11th, and he scored without a play. A the key was Pena a cardinals manager Joe Torre said it a a thakas Heads up baseball. That a what Speed does for  Pena Drew a one out walk in the 11th off Doug Sisk 2-1 and stole second. Mint Thompson was intentionally walked and Bernard Gilkey was credited with an infield hit when shortstop Jeff Blauser National league  get the Ball out of his Grove in time for a Force out. That loaded the bases for Smith.  2-0the fourth St Louis Kitcher pitched two perfect innings. He As two wins and seven saves in nine appearances for the cardinals who Are 8-3 during a 13-game Home stand. In the seventh Felix Jose doubled Todd Zeile had a run scoring single and Jose Oquendo singled with one out to Chase starter John Smoltz. Mike Stanton walked Pinch hitter Gerald Perry loading the bases and Smith barely beat Stanton Stag after first baseman Sid Bream knocked Down the Ball and tossed to first. Pena sent into the game in the seventh As a Pirich runner scored from second on the play. A nonchalant Fielding play by git Lycy in left helped the braves score three runs in the fifth. Gilkey drifted to his right for a Ball nit by Bream to open the inning and the drive dropped in for a double. Rafael Belliard followed with a Ruri scoring single and Jeff Treadway hit a two run single. Smoltz who remained at 0-4, gave up six hits and three runs in 61/3 innings. In the Only other game monday. Phillies 7, padres 2 Philadelphia a hitting against the san Diego padres seems easy for Dale Murphy. Murphy drove in three runs with a two run Homer and a sacrifice Fly As Philadelphia won its third straight game Murphy hit a sacrifice Fly in the first inning to give Philadelphia a 1-0 Lead and broke a 1-l tie with a two run Homer in the third. A i play a lot of games in san Diego and of course also in Atlanta and they re both Good hitting Parks a said Murphy a former Brave. T think that a the reason. Also in my first year up in september i played some games in san Diego in fact i nit my first Home run  Terry Mulholland 2-2 allowed six hits in eight innings struck out three and walked one. Mitch Williams pitched a perfect ninth de Whitson 1-3 lost his third consecutive Start allowing 11 hits and five runs in six innings. Mariners rout o a switch streaks again by the associated press Baltimore a 1 he Seattle mariners a team of up and Downs ended another losing Streak on monday night. / every starter got at least one hit As Seattle beat the slumping Baltimore orioles pm and ended a five game losing Streak. A a it a a funny thing. Lose six win eight lose live a manager Jim Lefebvre said. A obviously we re hoping this does no to happen too often. Wed like to be a Little More  the orioles on to hts other hand have been consistently bad. Baltimore has lost eight of 11 and is 4-9 since its Only winning Streak a two games. A the most disturbing thing is How inconsistent we be been a manager Frank Robinson said. A we probably played with less intensity and enthusiasm tonight than any game this  y Rich Delucia 2-2 allowed seven hits in Tyi innings  league out three and walked three. Seattle made four double plays three behind Delucia. Sam Horn homered for the orioles whose starters have a 7.45 Era in the first four games of the current Home stand. Dave Johnson 1-3 gave up six runs and nine hits in four innings. In monday s other game tigers 3, royals 1 Kansas City to. Emer gency starter Steve Searcy combined with Paul Gibson to shut Down Kansas City. Alan Trammell hit two run scoring singles and Mickey Tettleton hit his Sec Ond Home run of the season in the eighth. Searcy 1-1who failed to get out of the second inning in his previous Start pitched 5vi innings in place of Dan Petry who was. Scratched with lower Back pain Gibson relieved Searcy with one out and twp on in the sixth loaded the bases with an intentional walk and then threw called third strikes past Kurt Stillwell and Gary Thurman. Gibson finished with two hit Relief for his first save. _ _ Bret Saberhagen 1-3win less since opening Day has had Only one run scored for him while he was in the game during his last three starts. Saberhagen allowed seven hits in seven innings and struck out five before Steve Crawford relieved