National League Roundup : Padres Hit Four Homers, but Cubs Get Big One From Dunston and Win

Shawon Dunston is a rookie and isn’t really familiar with Chicago’s Wrigley Field when the wind is blowing out at near gale force.

That is one reason the Chicago Cubs’ young shortstop never saw his first major league home run clear the wall. The speedster thought the ball was in the gap and he was digging for three.

The ball landed in the seats in left-center in the fourth inning, putting the Cubs ahead, 5-4, and sending them on their way to a wind-blown 12-8 victory over the San Diego Padres.

Winds up to 24 m.p.h. helped push seven home runs out of the park. Two of the homers were hit by 40-year-old Graig Nettles of the Padres.

But Dunston, 22, will settle for his most productive day in the majors. In addition to his home run, he had a double, a walk, scored three runs and drove in two.

“It was nice to get the hit that put us ahead to stay,” Dunston said, “but I had no idea it was a home run. I thought it was a gapper, so I started running with my head down. I heard the fans let out a cheer, and when I looked up, the ball was gone.”

Dunston, who has tremendous speed, was chosen over Larry Bowa for the shortstop job in spring training. Despite a three-error game early in the season, the Cubs believe he is destined to become a star.

Although he is hitting only .232 and his fielding has been shaky at times, the Cubs are leading the East and plan to stay with the rookie.

The Padres hit four home runs and four doubles, but their pitchers walked 11 batters. Reliever Tim Stoddard walked in two runs in the eighth after the Padres pulled within a run, 9-8.

“It’s bad enough with the ball taking off in the air,” Padre Manager Dick Williams said. “But you’re in real trouble when your pitchers walk 11.”

Cincinnati 14, New York 2--The Reds scored only five runs in losing four previous games to the Mets this season, but in this one at Cincinnati they exploded for 10 runs in the sixth inning alone.

The big blow in the rally was Nick Esasky’s grand slam, the third of his brief career. The Reds scored a run to take a 3-2 lead when rookie Roger McDowell walked Cesar Cedeno intentionally to load the bases. Esasky, a .250 hitter, hit a long fly to left-center. Center fielder Len Dykstra appeared to have a play on the ball. He leaped high, but the ball cleared his outstretched glove for a home run.

The blast enabled former Met Jay Tibbs to end a four-game losing streak with his first victory. He had the Mets under control except for Gary Carter’s two-run home run in the top of the sixth that tied the game.

Pete Rose went 1 for 1, scored twice and drove in a run. He needs 78 hits to pass Ty Cobb.

Philadelphia 7, Houston 5--Everyone has been waiting for the Phillies’ third baseman to start hitting home runs. It finally happened in this game at Philadelphia, but it wasn’t Mike Schmidt hitting them.

Schmidt, with only two home runs this season, was out with a hamstring injury. His replacement, seldom used Luis Aguayo, hit two home runs, the second coming with one on in the 13th to give the Phillies the victory.

Aguayo was 0 for 7 for the season until he hammered his two home runs and two singles. The home runs gave him 10 lifetime in nearly 300 at-bats for the Phillies.

Dave Rucker, who joined the Phillies just before game time after being recalled from Portland, retired six batters in a row, two on strikeouts, to gain the victory.

Schmidt’s only appearance was as a pinchhitter in the ninth and he singled.

St. Louis 6, San Francisco 4--The only question about fleet Vince Coleman is whether he can hit major league pitching. Once he gets on base, the 24-year-old outfielder is a terror.

For the Cardinals are concerned, it’s so far, so good. Coleman singled twice, walked, stole three bases and scored two runs to lead the Cardinals’ attack at St. Louis.

In 15 games Coleman has stolen 17 bases to lead the majors. Seven times he has stolen third and he has been successful in his last 13 attempts. Moreover, he is batting .317. When he hit only .138 in spring training, Coleman opened the season at Louisville in the American Assn. When Tito Landrum was hurt, he was recalled.

Coleman started a four-run first inning rally with a single, went to second on a wild pitch, stole third and continued home when catcher Alex Trevino threw the ball into left field.

Montreal 9, Atlanta 3--Mike Fitzgerald and U.L. Washington each drove in two runs in the fourth inning at Atlanta with the only hits in a five-run rally that enabled Bryn Smith to improve his record to 4-0.

The Expos, who have won three in a row and 9 of 11, jumped on Pascual Perez (0-4) for the runs in the fourth.

Smith wasn’t exactly overpowering. He gave up 10 hits in 7 innings. Jeff Reardon gave up three hits and a run in 1. He only had to give up a couple of more hits and he could have earned his seventh save.