National League Roundup : After 15 Innings, Astros Finally Defeat the Mets, 9-8
The New York Mets, angry and weary, finally escaped from Houston late Sunday.
A weekend, which included the arrest of four of their players and the embarrassment of their highly touted pitching staff, was concluded by a marathon at the Astrodome.
A disputed play at home climaxed a 5-hour, 29-minute battle in which the Astros scored a 9-8 victory in 15 innings to win the last three games of a four-game series from the runaway leaders of the East.
With the bases loaded and one out in the 15th, Kevin Bass grounded to first baseman Keith Hernandez, who appeared to have trouble getting the ball out of his glove for the throw home. Umpire Greg Bonin ruled that Bill Doran, the runner on third, crossed the plate before catcher Gary Carter caught the ball. The Mets argued vehemently, to no avail.
In their first game after the All-Star break, the Mets clobbered the Astros, 12-2, Thursday night. Nothing has gone their way since. After the Astros beat Ron Darling Friday night, Darling and three of his teammates were involved in an altercation at a night club and were arrested. On Saturday, the Astros cuffed around Dwight Gooden. In this game, 12-game winner Sid Fernandez was mistreated.
Going into the ninth, the Astros, tied for first in the West, had an 8-5 lead, but the Mets rallied to tie. Frank DiPino, who gave up two run-scoring hits in the ninth to allow the Mets to tie, was traded to the Chicago Cubs after the game for former Dodger Davey Lopes.
Bob Knepper (12-7), who shut out the Mets, 3-0, Friday night, pitched the 15th inning for the Astros.
In the longest game in the league this season, there were 33 hits, including 3 home runs and 12 pitchers were used. Roger McDowell, who gave up the winning run in the ninth Saturday, was the loser for the second game in a row. He has lost his last four decisions after winning his first seven.
Despite the unhappy weekend, the Mets still lead the East by 11 1/2 games.
Philadelphia 9, Cincinnati 3--Charles Hudson, threatened with demotion to the minors, used a no-windup delivery at Cincinnati to slow down the Reds’ drive to the top of the West.
Hudson went eight innings, giving up five hits and striking out seven to end his six-game losing streak and the Reds’ five-game winning streak.
“It’s the first time I tried it and it worked,” Hudson said. “I was keeping the ball down and hitting the target until I tired.”
Juan Samuel had four hits and scored four runs to lead the Phillies’ 13-hit attack.
San Francisco 5, Chicago 4--Some pitchers complain about being sent to the bullpen, but Scott Garrelts thrives on it.
Garrelts, made a starter this season, came out of the bullpen in this game at Chicago to yield just one hit in three scoreless innings and became the winner when the Giants rallied for two runs in the eighth.
“I don’t know if there’s more adrenaline kicking in or what but I enjoy pitching when every pitch can mean the ballgame,” Garrelts said.
Although he isn’t planning on taking Garrelts out of the rotation, Manager Roger Craig was ecstatic over Garrelts’ performance.
“That’s what I call a hummer,” Craig said. “Several times Garrelts was clocked at 96 miles per hour.”
Pittsburgh 4, San Diego 2--Some outstanding relief pitching has enabled the Pirates to climb out of the cellar in the East.
In winning their third in a row over the Padres at Pittsburgh, the Pirates benefited from three hitless innings from Larry McWilliams (2-5), and Don Robinson came on to get the last two outs.
Robinson has been sensational since coming off the disabled list on June 7. In 17 appearances, he has a 2-0 record, four saves and an earned-run average of 1.65. He has given up only one run in his last 16 innings.
For the second game in a row, Jim Morrison drove in the winning run. He doubled to drive in the tie-breaking run in the sixth.
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