NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Gooden Is Sharp, but Hill Proves Sharper

Nearly everything went well during Dwight Gooden’s return Friday at Shea Stadium. The 47,218 fans cheered, his arm felt good and he had a sharp curve.

About the only thing that went wrong was the outcome of the first game Gooden has pitched since undergoing rotator cuff surgery in September.

Ken Hill, already a Met nemesis in his fourth major league season, pitched a four-hitter and the Montreal Expos spoiled the Mets’ home opener, 4-0.

Hill, 5-1 lifetime against the Mets, came to the Expos in the trade for Andres Galarraga after compiling a 23-35 record for St. Louis.

Gooden threw 89 pitches, giving up two runs and three hits.

“Once I was on the mound, it all fell into place,” he said. “I felt comfortable and it gave me a warm feeling to hear the cheers.”

Larry Walker’s double gave Hill the run he needed in the fourth. Spike Owen’s run-scoring single chased Gooden.

“He had a good bite on his curve,” Walker said. “I don’t think he was throwing as hard as he did a year ago.”

“That was a great outing,” new Met Manager Jeff Torborg said. “He was fluid and showed a lot of poise.”

St. Louis 2, Chicago 1--Even though the Cardinals had to go 11 innings at Chicago, none of them were seriously hurt. In each of the first four games, at least one Cardinal was injured.

Doubles by Rex Hudler and Ray Lankford in the 11th provided the victory after the Cardinals missed earlier chances to spoil the Cubs’ home opener.

Shortly before Todd Zeile hit his third home run, during the fourth inning, Lankford was out stealing. During the ninth, the Cardinals loaded the bases with one out on three walks. Pedro Guerrero flied to left, but Sammy Sosa threw Bernard Gilkey out trying to score from third.

Pittsburgh 3, Philadelphia 2--Barry Bonds hit his second home run of the season, but he was more proud of a groundball out at Philadelphia.

The home run gave the Pirates a 2-0 lead. During the sixth Bonds, with Lloyd McClendon on second and none out, grounded the ball toward first to get McClendon to third, and McLendon later scored the winning run.

“Ordinarily, I go for the hit,” Bonds said. “But the run was too important, and I did my job. Winning is what’s important.”

Atlanta 5, San Francisco 3--Jeff Blauser cleared the bases with a triple to highlight a four-run first inning at Atlanta and the Braves made it stand.

Charlie Leibrandt shut out the Giants on four hits through five innings but faltered during the sixth.

Cincinnati 8, Houston 5--Joe Oliver hit a three-run home run during the fifth inning to help Chris Hammond make a winning return at Houston.

Hammond, who had tendinitis in his elbow during the second half of last season, gave up six hits in six innings for his first victory since July 5.