National League Roundup : Cubs Lose 11th in Row on Rookie’s RBI in 10th

Rookie Curt Ford, in his first major league at-bat, singled home the winning run in the 10th inning Saturday night to give the St. Louis Cardinals a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs at St. Louis.

For the Cubs, it was their 11th straight loss, the longest losing streak in the major leagues this season. The Cubs, who managed only three hits off three Cardinal pitchers, are closing in on the club record of 13 set in 1982.

The Cardinals are flying high, having won seven of eight games. The surge has pushed them into sole possession of first place, one-half game ahead of the Montreal Expos.

Ozzie Smith led off the 10th with a single to center and took second on a wild pitch by reliever Lee Smith (3-2). After Tom Nieto struck out, Ford stroked a single to score Smith.

Ford was called up from Louisville of the American Assn. last Monday.

“No, I wasn’t nervous,” Ford said. “I might be nervous twice the next time. I like to hit in a situation like that. I like the challenge. Every time I walk between the lines, I want to be a hero, the big shooter.”

Willie McGee of the Cardinals had two hits in four at-bats, the sixth game in a row he has had two or more hits. He leads the majors with a .355 average.

Cincinnati 4, Atlanta 3--In 11 previous trips to the plate against Brave reliever Terry Forster, Dave Parker had come up empty. But this time, the Cincinnati slugger touched the portly left-hander for a one-out, bases-loaded single in the ninth, sending the Reds past the Braves at Atlanta.

“I’ve had my problems hitting Terry Forster,” said Parker, who picked up his third hit of the game and his 50th RBI of the season. “I think the game-winning RBI is an overrated statistic, but I don’t mind being the hero once in a while. That situation is a hitter’s dream.

“With the infield drawn in, I just wanted to hit the ball hard. If it gets to the outfield, we score and win.”

Bob Horner hit two solo home runs for the Braves, his eighth and ninth of the season.

Montreal 5, New York 4--Second baseman Wally Backman’s error on Terry Francona’s ground ball in the top of the 10th inning enabled Dan Driessen to score from third base, allowing the Expos to beat the Mets in New York.

The Mets took a 4-2 lead in the seventh when 41-year-old Rusty Staub slammed a three-run, pinch home run off Montreal reliever Jeff Reardon. For Staub, it was his eighth career pinch-hit home run and 94th pinch hit, good for 12th on the all-time list.

San Diego 2, San Francisco 1--The Padres rewarded the largest regular-season, day-game crowd in San Diego history--53,375--with a victory over the last-place Giants, who have lost 19 one-run games.

Eric Show (6-4) surrendered two hits in eight innings before being lifted for a pinch-hitter. Tim Stoddard pitched the ninth for his first save.

Steve Garvey provided the offense with a two-run homer in the fourth. Garvey, after being knocked down by a high inside pitch, lined a 3-2 pitch into the left-field seats, scoring Tony Gwynn ahead of him.

Bill Laskey (1-9) allowed the Padres three hits in the seven innings he worked. In his last five starts, the Giants have scored three runs for Laskey.

Philadelphia 5, Pittsburgh 2--Juan Samuel’s three-run homer with one out in the bottom of the ninth snapped a 2-2 tie and gave the Phillies a victory over the Pirates at Philadelphia.