National League Roundup : Mets, Strawberry Off to a Sweet Start, Beat Pirates, 4-2

Darryl Strawberry homered for the second straight game, then doubled and scored the go-ahead run Thursday as the New York Mets beat the Pittsburgh Pirates at New York, 4-2.

It was business as usual for the Mets and Pirates. The Mets, who beat Pittsburgh 17 times in 18 games last season, completed a sweep of the two-game season-opening set.

Strawberry and Kevin McReynolds hit consecutive home runs in the second inning against Doug Drabek, giving the Mets a 2-0 lead.

Drabek, who gave up three hits in six innings, retired the next 13 batters, and the Pirates tied it in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Barry Bonds and a run-scoring double by Andy Van Slyke.

Strawberry led off the Mets’ half of the seventh by doubling against Logan Easley, who was making his major league debut. Strawberry moved to third base on a ground-out and scored on a sacrifice fly by Howard Johnson.

In the eighth, the Mets’ Gary Carter singled home a run for his 1,000th RBI.

St. Louis 4, Chicago 2--Terry Pendleton hit a two-run homer, and Vince Coleman scored twice and stole four bases as the Cardinals swept the season-opening two-game set at Chicago.

Danny Cox (1-0) allowed just one hit--a leadoff homer by Ryne Sandberg in the sixth--over 6 innings, striking out eight but walking six.

Todd Worrell, who had 36 saves last season for a National League rookie record, pitched the final 1 innings, relieving Bill Dawley and earning his first save.

Atlanta 8, Philadelphia 7--Dion James singled over a five-man infield to score Ken Oberkfell with one out in the 10th inning, lifting the Braves to the win at Atlanta.

Oberkfell singled to chase loser Dan Schatzeder (0-1). Reliever Tom Hume then hit Glenn Hubbard and Rafael Ramirez with pitches to load the bases.

The Phillies stationed right fielder Glenn Wilson behind second base, but James lined his game-winning single to right.