National League Roundup : Ryan Goes the Distance and Beats Cubs

It was 18 years ago that Nolan Ryan started throwing maybe the best fastball in history past major league hitters. Now 38, Ryan is still throwing that good fastball, and it’s just possible he is a better pitcher than ever.

Ryan pitched a seven-hitter and struck out seven Friday at Chicago to give the Houston Astros a 6-2 victory over the Cubs, improving his record to 4-2. It was the first time in 37 games this season that a complete game had been pitched against the Cubs.

Bill Doran gave Ryan all the offensive support he needed. The leadoff batter had three hits, scored three runs and drove in another.

It was just a year ago that Ryan was in one of his hottest streaks ever. He went through the month of May giving up only one earned run, compiling a 5-0 record.

This May hasn’t been quite as productive, but it’s been pretty good. In five starts, he has pitched 38 innings, struck out 40 and given up 10 runs. Five of the runs came in a game in which he won. He lost a 1-0 game and twice had a no-decision despite giving up only one run.

“I don’t worry about records,” Ryan said after extending his record strikeout total to 3,942. “I don’t look at my stats. All I think of is pitching every fifth day and helping the club.

“I am aware that I’m the oldest Texan in the majors and I’m proud of that.”

Although he said he didn’t especially enjoy pitching against the Cubs, Ryan is 12-3 against them.

San Diego 1, Philadelphia 0--Manager Dick Williams is moaning about all the problems his Padres are having with injuries, slumps and other troubles.

The problems won’t really be significant unless something happens to bullpen ace Rich Gossage. Right now, the 33-year-old right-hander is pitching brilliantly.

Gossage threw 2 innings of shutout relief at Philadelphia to save Dave Dravecky’s fourth win of the season. Gossage is the major league leader with 12 saves. He also has a victory and an earned-run average below 2.00.

John Denny allowed the Padres, who have won five in a row, only four hits. But a single by Garry Templeton, a walk, a sacrifice and Steve Garvey’s long fly accounted for the only run in the eighth inning. It was only the second time this season that Garvey has driven in the winning run.

Pittsburgh 4, Atlanta 2--Amid reports that Manager Eddie Haas may be in danger of losing his job, the Braves fell eight games behind San Diego in the West.

Jason Thompson drove in all the Pirate runs at Atlanta with a three-run home run and a single to give rookie Jim Winn all the support he needed.

Winn, in his first start, gave up a two-run home run to Bob Horner in the sixth but yielded only two other hits in seven innings. John Candelaria pitched two perfect innings to send the Braves deeper into their slump.

Thompson is having trouble running because of a hamstring injury, but it doesn’t seem to bother his hitting.

Montreal 2, San Francisco 0--The Expos also have a hot pitcher coming out of the bullpen. In this game at Montreal, rookie Joe Hesketh held the light-hitting Giants to two hits in 7 innings, and Jeff Reardon retired the last five batters to earn his 10th save.

Tim Raines homered to lead off the third inning, and Hubie Brooks duplicated the feat in the next inning to account for the only runs.

Hesketh (5-2) departed after David Green ripped a double in the eighth.

Cincinnati 7, St. Louis 6--On the 50th anniversary of the first major league night game at Cincinnati, the Reds rallied to win on a run-scoring single in the 12th by Dave Van Gorder.

Van Gorder singled in two runs in the eighth to give the Reds a 6-4 lead, but in the ninth, the Cardinals rallied to tie the game.

Tommy Herr’s sacrifice fly sent the game into extra innings.