National League Roundup : Cardinals’ McGee Lets His Bat Do the Talking

Willie McGee isn’t one of the growing group of athletes who refuses to talk to the media. The St. Louis Cardinals’ brilliant center fielder just would rather let his bat speak for him.

The bat is doing its part to keep the Cardinals in a hot battle with the New York Mets in the National League East.

McGee had two more hits and two more runs batted in Tuesday night at St. Louis to lead the Cardinals to a 6-5 victory over the hapless Pittsburgh Pirates and keep the Cardinals a game behind the sizzling Mets.

Joaquin Andujar became the majors’ first 19-game winner, but it wasn’t because he pitched very well. Instead, clutch hits by McGee, Darrell Porter and Terry Pendleton made a winner out of Andujar.

Andujar needed help in the eighth. In 7 innings he gave up nine hits and all five runs, four of them earned.

McGee, known as the quiet man, is 12 for 29 in the last seven games. He has driven in 11 runs in those games and has raised his league-leading average to .355.

“I’m not interested in being a media star or anything else,” McGee told the Associated Press. “I just want to play hard and help my team win games. We’re all working hard, and I don’t want to let anybody down.

“If you work hard and have pride, you can do a lot.”

Manager Whitey Herzog is one of McGee’s biggest boosters. “He’s played well all year,” Herzog said. “He’s a heck of a player and a real good kid with it. He just goes out and hustles all the time.

“Andujar was getting the ball up. It was a fouled up game. I thought with the 6-3 lead we had it.

“Porter has been hitting well for us since he came off the disabled list. I’m just glad he did it here at home where the fans have been on him a bit.”

New York 4, Philadelphia 2--Rick Aguilera can hardly believe the success he is enjoying in his rookie season. The 23-year-old right-hander from San Gabriel has become a key factor in the Mets’ bid for the pennant.

In this game at New York, Aguilera pitched seven strong innings, had two hits and drove in a run as the Mets extended their winning streak to nine games. Aguilera has won four of his last five decisions and is 6-3 since being called up in the middle of June.

“I never would have dreamed of being here so soon and doing so well,” Aguilera said. “I had good command of my pitches tonight and got them to chase some bad balls.”

The Mets, although they lead the Cardinals by only a game, have won 15 of their last 17 games.

Cincinnati 3, San Diego 2--As the Padres fell eight games behind the Dodgers in the West, their ace, LaMarr Hoyt, failed again.

Hoyt, who hasn’t won since July 20, lost his third in a row in this game at San Diego.

Hoyt breezed through the first three innings, but Dave Parker homered on Hoyt’s first pitch in the fourth and the Reds went on to score two more runs to enable Tom Browning to win his 10th. John Franco saved it with three scoreless innings of relief.

Parker’s 22nd home run ended the Reds’ scoreless string at 25 innings.

Bruce Bochy hit a two-run home run for the Padres in the sixth.

Pete Rose singled in four at-bats and needs only 20 more hits to break Ty Cobb’s record.

Montreal 4, Chicago 1--Scott Sanderson entered this game at Chicago as the only Cub starting pitcher able to pitch. When he limped off the field in the second inning, it was unanimous----the starting staff is wiped out.

Sanderson sprained a ligament in his right knee and will be out four weeks. Rick Sutcliffe, Dennis Eckersley, Steve Trout and Dick Ruthven are already on the disabled list.

Andre Dawson greeted Sanderson’s replacement, George Frazier, with a two-run double and the Cubs were on the way to their eighth loss in the last nine games.

Dawson also played a key role in stopping the Cub offense. With two out in the Cub fourth, Ron Cey singled. Jody Davis doubled over Dawson’s head in center, but Dawson started a fast relay that nailed Cey at the plate.

Joe Hesketh (10-5) was the winner and Jeff Reardon pitched the last two innings to pick up his 30th save.

San Francisco 4, Houston 2--Mike Krukow did in the Astros with his arm and bat at San Francisco. Krukow hit his first home run of the season in the second inning and struck out a career-high 12 while pitching a five-hitter.

Going into the game Krukow was 2-9 against the Astros, who had beaten the Giants seven out of eight this season.

“That team has given me trouble forever,” Krukow (8-8) said. “It was nice to finally beat them.”