National League Roundup : Braves Break Out Against Phillies

At long last, the Atlanta Braves’ hitting slump is over. There were signs of it Wednesday night when late-inning home runs produced a 3-2 win, and the drought ended for sure Thursday night at Atlanta.

The Braves pounded out 11 hits, three by Terry Harper, and scored more runs than they had scored in their previous seven games. They beat the futile Philadelphia Phillies, 6-3.

In their previous seven games, including the 3-2 win Wednesday night, the Braves, ordinarily a good-hitting team, scored only five runs in 63 innings.

Harper, who hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning Wednesday night to get the Braves even, scored a run and drove in a run in this one.

Dale Murphy, whose first slump of the season triggered the demise of the Braves’ offense, said before the game he figured the team was about to break out. He had two hits, including a single in the three-run seventh that broke the game open.

But the Brave who appreciates the end of the slump the most is undoubtedly relief pitcher Bruce Sutter. The Braves paid Sutter, a free agent, an enormous salary in the belief the bullpen ace was just what they needed to win the pennant.

There isn’t much work for a pitcher accustomed to saving games, getting the last out in a close game, when the team doesn’t score runs and consequently is behind in the late innings. A manager hesitates to use a Sutter when his club is trailing.

Sutter is happily back at work. Monday, he worked two scoreless innings to save a 1-0 victory. Wednesday night, he pitched another scoreless inning and was the winner. In his third appearance in four games, Sutter went two hitless innings to pick up his sixth save.

“It is worse for me to be idle than it is to pitch too much,” Sutter said. “I need the challenge of facing the hitters in spots where a hit can beat us.

“When I had my first chance in that situation in more than a week Monday, I was a little leery. Now, I feel as though I’m ready to go often.”

Harper felt the Atlanta hitters finally started to relax. “We were hitting the ball and it was just a matter of time before the hits started falling in,” he said. “It feels good to get back to winning.”

In addition to not playing well, the Phillies’ luck is bad. Shane Rawley had a 1-0 lead with two out in the third when he had to leave because he pulled a groin muscle.

Houston 1, New York 0--In his second start since being recalled from the minors, Sid Fernandez again pitched well for the Mets.

In seven innings, the former Dodger left-hander gave up only two hits at Houston. But one of the two walks he yielded was to Bill Doran in the first inning and he scored the only run of the game on a ringing double off the right-field wall by Jose Cruz.

Fernandez (1-1) has pitched 13 innings, given up a run and only three hits. He has struck out 15.

Mike Scott (2-1) held the Mets to five hits, but he needed help from Dave Smith in the ninth. With two on and two out, Smith got the final out for his fifth save.

Cincinnati 4, Montreal 2--Tom Foley, batting only .071 going into this game at Montreal, tripled in the seventh inning to drive in the tie-breaking run. It was his second hit of the night and raised his average 62 points.

Jay Tibbs, who lost his first four decisions this season, improved his record to 3-5. Tom Hume retired the last seven Expos to earn his first save of the season.

The Expos, one of the hottest teams in the league when the week opened, have lost four in a row.

Pete Rose, the Reds’ player-manager, continued his relentless pursuit of Ty Cobb’s career basehit record. He went 1 for 3 and has 4,124 hits. He needs 68 to break the record.