San Diego Solves Cub Pitching, Gains Split

Kevin McReynolds and the rest of the San Diego Padres took advantage of the Chicago Cubs’ pitching woes to record an 8-4 victory Monday.

The Cubs started the day by beating the Padres, 6-3, in a suspended game from May. They had led, 4-2, after six innings when the game was called because of darkness May 5.

In the regularly scheduled game, McReynolds completed three-fourths of the hitting cycle with a two-run double, a triple and a two-run home run. It was part of a 14-hit attack for the Padres against four middle relievers the Cubs were forced to use.

“After the string of no-hits I’ve had, this was nice,” said McReynolds, who recently suffered through an 0-for-25 streak. “The past few days, I’ve hit the ball better. Maybe I’m coming out of it.”

“He just hasn’t been finding the holes,” said San Diego Manager Dick Williams. “He hasn’t been hitting the ball hard. But on this road trip he’s been coming out of it.”

The Cub pitching staff, meanwhile, is in big trouble. Rick Sutcliffe has been put on the 15-day disabled list with another leg injury, and Dennis Eckersley missed his scheduled start Monday because of continued arm troubles.

That’s why Chicago manager Jim Frey had to start reliever Lary Sorensen, 1-2, whose longest stint before Monday was three innings.

He only pitched three against the Padres before turning it over to reliever Warren Brusstar. He was eventually replaced by rookie Ron Meridith and Dick Ruthven.

“As is apparent, our pitching staff is pretty thinned out,” Frey said. “Not only are our starters hurt, but because of it the bullpen has been taxed. What we need is a long effort out of one of our starters the next few days.”

In the second game, McReynolds homered in the second inning to give the Padres a 2-1 lead and his two-run double in the seventh put San Diego ahead 8-4.

Former Cub Tim Stoddard pitched 3 2-3 innings of scoreless relief to improve to 1-3.

The Padres went ahead 5-3 with a three-run fourth inning. Steve Garvey doubled, went to third on a single by Graig Nettles and scored on a single by Terry Kennedy to tie the score 3-3.

Reliever Warren Brusstar replaced Sorensen and gave up an RBI single to Carmelo Martinez. Garry Templeton singled home Kennedy for the third run of the inning.

The Cubs pulled to within 5-4 in the bottom of the fourth on a double by Keith Moreland and a single by Steve Lake.

But the Padres got an insurance run in the sixth inning on a triple by McReynolds, which right fielder Moreland lost in the sun, and a sacrifice fly by Templeton. McReynolds came up with his two-run double the next inning following a walk to Nettles and a single by Kennedy.

The Cubs took a 3-2 lead in the third inning on a two-run home run by Thad Bosley--his second of the season--following a walk to Ryne Sandberg.

The Cubs’ first run came in the second inning when Moreland singled, went to third on a single by Ron Cey and scored on a sacrifice fly by Lake.

In the suspended game, Moreland’s two-run homer in the sixth inning, the last inning before the game was called because of darkness two months ago, stood up. Leon Durham added a two-run homer in the eighth inning Monday to make a winner of reliever George Frazier, 4-2.

The loser was Jose DeLeon, 0-3.

The Cubs also scored two runs in the fourth inning on a single by Bob Dernier, a triple by Ryne Sandberg and a single by Durham.

The Padres took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on a double by Tony Gwynn and a single by Garvey, then tied the game in the fifth on singles by Jerry Royster, Gwynn and McReynolds.