National League Roundup : Kemp Ends Long Wait, Starts Helping Pirates in 5-3 Victory Over Cubs

Steve Kemp admits he probably shouldn’t be playing, but he couldn’t wait any longer.

Kemp, activated Sunday following off-season shoulder surgery, hit a tie-breaking two-run single in the sixth inning Monday night to help the Pittsburgh Pirates end a five-game losing streak with a 5-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh.

“My shoulder is still hurting and I probably can’t throw well enough to be out there (left field),” said Kemp, acquired in an off-season trade with the New York Yankees. “But I’m happy with my progress, to be playing only three months after surgery.

“Chuck (Tanner, the Pirates’ manager) knows the situation with my shoulder but he knows I want to play.”

Kemp also singled and scored in his first at-bat after seeing Three Rivers Stadium for the first time earlier in the day. The Cubs tied the score on Leon Durham’s home run, but Kemp untied it with his two-run single as Pittsburgh scored three runs in the sixth.

Larry McWilliams (1-1), who failed to go past the fifth inning in two previous starts, scattered seven hits over 7 innings to get the victory.

The Cubs chased McWilliams with a pair of runs in the eighth before Don Robinson came out of the bullpen to end the rally. Left-hander John Candelaria, who has had a hand in every Pirate victory this season, pitched the ninth for his third save.

“Candy’s tough on left-handed batters. He’s tough on everybody,” Cubs Manager Jim Frey said. “When you bring him on to pitch to just a couple of guys, he can really hump it up there. Robinson’s the same way from the other side. They can bring it.”

McWilliams retired 10 of the next 11 batters after allowing Durham’s home run and before tiring in the eighth. Robinson and Candelaria came on to finish off the Cubs.

New York 7, St. Louis 6--Darryl Strawberry and George Foster hit home runs to help Calvin Schiraldi to his first major league victory as the Mets took a 6-0 lead and held off the Cardinals at St. Louis.

Strawberry hit his fourth homer with a man aboard to cap a three-run first inning against John Tudor (0-2), and Mookie Wilson triple home two more runs in the second. Foster’s two-out homer, his third, made it 6-0 after three innings.

St. Louis cut the lead to 6-3 when Lonnie Smith tripled home two runs in the bottom of the third and scored on Tommy Herr’s single.

The Cardinals knocked out Schiraldi with two runs in the seventh before Roger McDowell and Jesse Orosco choked off the rally.

Keith Hernandez tied a New York record by knocking in at least one run in seven consecutive games when he hit a run-scoring double in the fourth.

San Diego 5, Atlanta 3--Batting champion Tony Gwynn had three hits and drove in the tie-breaking run in the seventh inning to help Andy Hawkins to his third victory as the Padres beat the Braves at San Diego.

Hawkins (3-0) surrendered Dale Murphy’s seventh home run, a three-run blast in the first inning, then blanked the Braves on just one hit until leaving after the seventh for a pinch-hitter. After giving up a leadoff triple to Terry Harper in the second, Hawkins retired the final 18 batters he faced, and Rich Gossage retired six more in a row to gain his second save.

After Gwynn’s run-scoring single, Steve Garvey singled home an insurance run for the Padres. Garvey was playing in his 2000th major league game.

Terry Kennedy hit his fourth homer for the Padres.

Houston 4, Cincinnati 1--Mike Scott allowed five hits over 8 innings and Kevin Bass hit the Astros’ first home run in the Astrodome this season as the Reds’ seven-game winning streak came to an end at Houston.

Scott (1-0) walked three and struck out four before Dave Smith came on to get the last two outs and stretch Houston’s winning streak to three games.

Jay Tibbs (0-3) was locked in a 1-1 tie with Scott when the Astros took command on Denny Walling’s singled home a run and scored on Jerry Mumphrey’s triple.

Philadelphia 9, Montreal 1--Von Hayes drove in four runs, Gary Maddox added three more RBI and Juan Samuel scored three times to lead the Phillies to a 9-1 rout of the Expos at Montreal.

Shane Rawley, 2-0, went 5 innings for the victory.