National League Roundup : Rawley Goes the Distance to Defeat Cubs, 11-2

Shane Rawley says he proved something to himself in beating the Chicago Cubs at Philadelphia Tuesday night.

“I felt I proved I could go the whole way,” the Philadelphia Phillies left-hander said after completing his first game since Sept. 17. “It means a lot to most pitchers to complete a game.”

Rawley, 6-6, who has been handicapped this season with a groin injury, scattered eight hits in leading the Phillies to a 11-2 victory over the Cubs. He ended a personal, three-game losing streak while striking out five and walking two.

Last year’s Cy Young Award winner, Rick Sutcluffe, 7-7, took the loss, giving up eight hits and seven runs in five innings. The Phillies scored four runs in the first inning alone, three on a homer by Glenn Wilson.

“I was determined to pitch a good game tonight. I knew I would have to, to beat Sutcliffe,” said Rawley, who has completed 20 games in 93 starts during his eight-year career.

Rawley said he got a shot of confidence when his teammates got four runs in the first inning.

“That’s the first time all year I got a four-run lead, and when you get that, you should be able to win,” he said. “It made me feel comfortable, and I went right after ‘em the whole game.”

Wilson, who has 55 RBIs on 71 hits, said his three-run homer lifted the depression he felt after leaving six runners stranded Monday night in a 3-1 loss to the Cubs.

Juan Samuel opened the Phillies’ first with a single, stole second, moved to third on Greg Gross’ single and scored on Von Hayes’ single. Wilson then slammed his eighth home run of the season, over the right-field wall.

The Phillies made it 5-0 in the fourth on Samuel’s RBI single and scored two runs each in the fifth and sixth. With two outs in the fifth, Ozzie Virgil singled and Thomas hit his second homer of the season.

Philadelphia struck again in the sixth with the help of two Cub errors. Samuel was safe on shortstop Larry Bowa’s throwing error and scored on Greg Gross’ triple. Gross scored as second baseman Ryne Sandberg booted Hayes’ grounder.

Chicago scored a run in the seventh when Jody Davis led off with his seventh homer of the year, and another in the ninth on an RBI single by Steve Lake. The Phillies added insurance runs in the eighth on a two-run triple by Steve Jeltz.

Sandberg had a single in the fourth to extend his hitting streak to 14 games.

Mike Schmidt, who has battled with Philadelphia fans over their booing, struck out three times in five at bats and had his 10-game hitting streak stopped. He stranded six runners during the game.

St. Louis 4, Montreal 0--John Tudor pitched a three-hitter and Willie McGee collected four hits and stole two bases as the Cardinals shut out the Expos at Montreal.

Tudor (7-6) went the distance for the fourth time this season, striking out six. He did not walk a batter and didn’t allow a runner past first base.

The Cardinals improved their NL East lead to 1 1/2 games over the Expos at the expense of David Palmer (6-7).

Vince Coleman led off with a single and after a half-dozen pickoff attempts by Palmer, stole his major league-leading 54th base. Palmer’s pickoff attempt at second went into center field, advancing Coleman to third. Coleman then scored on McGee’s infield single.

New York 5, Pittsburgh 4--Ron Darling and Roger McDowell combined on an eight-hitter and Ray Knight knocked in two runs as the Mets snapped a six-game losing streak with the victory at New York.

Darling (7-2) gave up all eight Pirate hits before needing relief help in the ninth from McDowell, who gained his fifth save after killing a Pittsburgh rally.

Larry McWilliams (4-7) was the loser.

San Francisco 8, Atlanta 3--Manny Trillo drove in two runs with a single and his first home run of the season and Jeff Leonard also knocked in a couple of runs as the Giants tripped the Braves at Candlestick Park.

Jim Gott (4-5) allowed six hits and two runs in 6 innings before giving way to reliever Scott Garrelts, who was touched for an unearned run in the eighth before recording his sixth save.

The Giants had 13 hits and took advantage of four Atlanta errors for their third victory in 15 games.

Steve Bedrosian (5-7) was the loser. Dale Murphy hit his 20th home run, tops in the majors.