National League Roundup : Clark’s Triple Helps Cards Gain Share of Lead

Jack Clark’s bases-loaded triple had a triple effect Friday night.

First, it boosted the St Louis Cardinals to a 7-5 win over the Chicago Cubs at St. Louis.

Second, it moved the Cardinals into a tie for the NL East lead with the New York Mets.

Third, it sent the slumping Cubs to their 10th loss in a row.

Clark’s bases-loaded triple made a winner of St. Louis right-hander Kurt Kepshire (4-5), who aided his own cause by doubling and walking and scoring twice.

The Chicago string of setbacks is three short of a club record. The Cubs lost 13 straight games in 1982, tying a previous mark.

Kepshire was backed by a fine defense that turned in a double play in each of the first three innings. It was Kepshire’s second triumph in six days against Dennis Eckersley (7-5), who gave up seven hits in six innings.

A Busch Stadium crowd of 46,005 watched the opener of a three-game series that gave St. Louis a 4-0 edge over the Cubs this season. A year ago, when Chicago won the East, the Cubs dominated the divisional series, 13-5.

New York 6, Montreal 3--Doug Sisk, a 27-year-old right-hander who was sent to the International League on May 16 and recalled 16 days later, hurled three innings of hitless relief to win his first game since April 17 and improve his record to 2-5 as the Mets beat the Expos at New York.

Mookie Wilson, a switch-hitting center fielder who only bats right-handed now because of his tender shoulder, drove in four runs with his second home run of the season and a pair of singles.

Mickey Mahler (1-1), making his third start since being recalled from the minors last month, was the loser. Mahler allowed 4 runs on 4 hits over 5 innings, struck out 6, walked 6 and threw 2 wild pitches.

Cincinnati 4-4, Atlanta 2-5--Claudell Washington tripled and hit a two-run homer to lead the Braves to a win in the nightcap and a split of their doubleheader with the Reds at Cincinnati.

In the opener, Dave Parker hit a three-run homer and Tom Browning (6-5) scattered six hits over seven innings to lead Cincinnati to victory.

Reds’ player-manager Pete Rose went 1 for 3 in the second game after going 0 for 3 in the opener. He needs 45 hits to pass Ty Cobb’s all-time record of 4,191.

In the nightcap, starter Rick Camp (2-3) allowed five hits and six walks in five innings for the victory. Bruce Sutter pitched two innings for his 10th save. Jay Tibbs (4-9) took the loss.

Philadelphia 4, Pittsburgh 3--Juan Samuel’s one-out double in the bottom of the 16th inning scored Derrel Thomas from second base, lifting the Phillies past the Pirates at Philadelphia.

John Wockenfuss led off the 16th off Jim Winn (2-2) with a walk, and Thomas followed with a single to left. Wockenfuss was forced at third on reliever Larry Andersen’s attempted sacrifice, but Samuel doubled down the right-field line to end the 4-hour 35-minute contest.

Andersen (2-2) pitched one inning for the victory.

San Diego 6, San Francisco 1--Kevin McReynolds had three hits and two RBIs and Jerry Royster hit a grand slam to lead the Padres over the Giants at San Diego.

Rookie starter Ed Wojna (1-0) combined with relievers Tim Stoddard and Craig Lefferts on a three-hitter to earn his first major league victory.