National League Roundup : Cards’ Forsch, Back From Back Surgery, Operates on Pirates

When Bob Forsch went to training camp this spring, he didn’t even know if he would be playing in April. He was a 35-year-old pitcher who was coming off back surgery after the worst season in his 11-year career.

Forsch pitched only 52 innings, won only two games and had an earned-run average of 6.02 in 1984. He had gone a long way downhill after helping the St. Louis Cardinals win the pennant in 1982 with 15 victories.

The younger brother of ailing Angel pitcher Ken Forsch not only made it through spring training, he has indicated he is back in his best form.

Before leaving after six innings because of a slight cut on his index finger, Forsch held the Pittsburgh Pirates to three hits Sunday at St. Louis for his second victory of the season, matching his 1984 total.

A grand slam homer by Terry Pendleton and the speed of rookie center fielder Vince Coleman helped Forsch fashion a 6-0 victory.

Forsch, who pitched a complete-game victory in his first start of the season last Monday, has pitched 15 innings, giving up only one run and 11 hits.

“I really didn’t know whether I had a future in baseball when I went to camp,” Forsch said. “Even when I had a good spring, I wasn’t sure. You have to go out there and face the hitters when it counts to find out.

“The cut isn’t anything serious and I don’t expect to miss a turn. I really feel good. My back doesn’t hurt and I’m still in the majors.”

Forsch had only a 2-0 lead when he departed. With the bases loaded in the seventh, Pendleton, hitting only .220 this season, hit the slam. Coleman, who stole 145 bases in the South Atlantic League in 1983, stole three bases Sunday and scored after a steal in the first inning.

Cincinnati 1, San Francisco 0--As expected, the Reds, under Pete Rose, are more aggressive. And because of that aggressiveness, plus more fine pitching, the Reds won this game at Cincinnati, their eighth victory in a row.

Eric Davis tripled for the Reds in the third inning, then made a dash for home on a 3-and-1 pitch to Gary Redus. Giant catcher Bob Brenly stepped in front of Redus, grabbed Atlee Hammaker’s pitch and tagged Davis. However, umpire Eric Gregg ruled catcher’s interference and Davis scored the only run of the game.

“He would have stolen home so, I had no alternative,” Brenly said. “Sometimes, the interference isn’t called.”

Davis’ daring move gave rookie Tom Browning, who pitched eight innings, his second straight win. Browning gave up five hits and allowed only two Giants to reach second.

Chicago 4, Montreal 0--Dennis Eckersley pitched his second consecutive shutout and Richie Hebner had three singles and drove in three runs at Montreal to end the Expos’ four-game winning streak.

Eckersley, who extended his scoreless innings this season to 19, gave up five hits. He also gave up five hits in a 1-0, 10-inning win over Philadelphia in his previous start.

Philadelphia 10, New York 6--Through Friday’s games, Met pitchers had a 1.73 ERA, best in the league. But in the last two games in Philadelphia they have given up 17 runs and lost two in a row.

Greg Gross, one of the premier pinch-hitters, doubled in two runs in a four-run seventh that carried the Phillies to victory.

Houston 4, Atlanta 2--Astro reliever Dave Smith said he didn’t have his best stuff when he came out of the bullpen at Atlanta with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth inning.

Not only that, he was facing a stranger, former American Leaguer Rick Cerone. Cerone hit the first pitch to third to start a double play and Smith went on to register his first save and give Bob Knepper his first win of the year.