BRAVES POUND 5 HOME RUNS IN ROUT OF CARDS

It hasn't taken long for Fred McGriff to endear himself to Atlanta Braves fans.

McGriff, in his second game with the Braves, hit two home runs Wednesday - giving him three since he was traded from San Diego - as Atlanta pounded the St. Louis Cardinals 14-2.How happy and excited are the fans?

When McGriff came to bat for the second time Wednesday, a majority of the 45,122 in attandance stood up to watch. When he sent a shot over the left field fence for his second homer in as many at-bats, the fans bowed in praise.

When McGriff botched a ground ball in the fourth inning, no one booed. The fans didn't even get upset when McGriff refused to come out for a curtain call.

"No, I don't do curtain calls. I didn't want to do anything to help the Cards come back, but I appreciate our fans. They're hungry and spirited and make a lot more commotion than I heard in San Diego. Most of them haven't given up on us."

McGriff, who has a 12-game hitting streak, is 4-for-8 with three runs and five RBIs since Atlanta acquired him Sunday from San Diego for three minor leaguers. He had three RBIs in Wednesday's game, helping second-place Atlanta stay nine games behind San Francisco in the NL West race.

Francisco Cabrera hit a grand slam and Terry Pendleton and Ron Gant added a home run and two RBIs apiece. Greg Maddux (10-8) allowed only four hits in six innings and became the third Braves pitcher to reach double figures in wins.

Giants 4, Expos 3

Dusty Baker waited all year to call a suicide squeeze, and when he finally did it worked perfectly.

"I'm not a squeeze type dude," Baker said.

Nevertheless, Baker made the call in the seventh inning at Candlestick Park with Kirt Manwaring at the plate and Mark Carreon on third. The pitch from Mel Rojas (4-7) was high and tight, but Manwaring managed to drop it in front of the plate.

"I either bunt it, or get hit," Manwaring said. "I didn't have much choice."

Phillies 7, Dodgers 0

Tommy Greene threw a six-hitter over 81/3 innings, striking out six and walking two.

Orel Hershiser (7-9) walked a season-high six and uncorked three wild pitches as he lost for the fifth time in six decisions.

Astros 5, Pirates 3