National League Roundup : Cardinals Take First With a Push From Forsch

On “Golden Oldies Night” at St. Louis Friday, Bob Forsch, the old man of the Cardinal pitching staff, hurled a four-hitter, and the Cardinals moved into first place in the East with a 6-1 victory over Montreal.

In only his second start in the last six weeks, the 35-year-old right-hander reached back for some pitches as golden as the songs played by a local band after the game.

The Cardinals, who have been going with four starters since early June, needed a complete game after wearing out the bullpen with two doubleheaders in the space of five nights.

Forsch (5-5) has been used sparingly since undergoing back surgery last summer. When he made an awkward grab of a throw by first baseman Jack Clark in the second inning, Forsch, the ace of the staff when the Cardinals won the 1982 World Series, thought he had reinjured his back.

“I was a little upset, because at first, it felt about the same as last year,” Forsch said. “But after another inning, it felt fine.”

Forsch had a two-hitter going into the eighth, but a double by Herm Winningham and a single by Scot Thompson ruined his shutout bid.

Clark, ending a 1-for-19 slump, homered in the second inning to start a three-run rally, and later, Tito Landrum, playing because the major leagues’ leading hitter, Willie McGee, has a sprained ankle, also homered.

“Forsch did the job,” Manager Whitey Herzog told the UPI. “It was a hell of a performance. We needed that in the worst way. Our staff was tired.”

Forsch struck out two and walked none in pitching his second complete game and beating Bill Laskey (5-13).

“He had good stuff,” catcher Darrell Porter said. “His fastball was really moving. That’s the pitch we wanted to establish, and we did. When he threw his breaking ball and slider, they were on the money. He had a nasty slider. He just did a good job tonight.”

Clark hit his 21st home run leading off the second inning. Terry Pendleton walked, and with two out, Ozzie Smith doubled him home. Forsch, a good hitting pitcher, singled in Smith to make it 3-0.

The victory moved the Cardinals a full game ahead of the New York Mets.

With Forsch pitching so well, it may be that Herzog will not be pitching Joaquin Andujar, John Tudor, Danny Cox and Kurt Kepshire with just three days’ rest.

Pittsburgh 7, New York 1--Maybe, playing the team with the worst record in the majors, caused the Mets to let down.

In this game at Pittsburgh, Rick Rhoden scattered nine hits and doubled in a run as the Pirates (34-78) ended a nine-game losing streak.

Bill Madlock, who figures he will soon be departing Pittsburgh, hit a two-run home run to help Rhoden improve his record to 7-13 and end Ed Lynch’s six-game winning streak.

“I don’t expect to be here too much longer,” Madlock said. “I hope I’m not. It’s not because I don’t like the organization or anything. It’s just that I know the situation.”

The Pirates have been unloading high salaried veterans and bringing up younger players from the minors. The most recent player recalled is infielder Denny Gonzales, a possible replacement for Madlock at third.

San Diego 6, Atlanta 3--Just when Kevin McReynolds was hitting his way out of Manager Dick Williams’ doghouse, the Padre center fielder reinjured the heel that sidelined him a couple of weeks ago.

McReynolds hit his 12th home run in the fourth inning to help make a loser of Rick Mahler (16-11) at San Diego. But later the injury flared up and he had to leave the game.

The Padres hammered out nine hits, three of them by Graig Nettles, off Mahler in five innings.

Andy Hawkins lasted only 5 innings, but the Padres’ early onslaught enabled him to improve his record to 15-4.

Houston 5, Cincinnati 4--Phil Garner singled with the bases loaded and one out in the ninth inning at Houston.

But Mario Soto, one of the league’s better pitchers, got the Reds in the hole when he threw home run balls to Mark Bailey, Denny Walling and Kevin Bass. Soto, having his worst season, has given up 24 home runs in 215 innings.

“I know the ball isn’t supposed to carry too well in the Astrodome,” Soto said, “but it seems that every fly ball goes out on me these days.”

Although reliever Dave Smith gave up a game-tying home run to Nick Esasky in the top of the ninth, he became the winner when Garner came through.

Chicago 6, Philadelphia 5--There were two out in the eighth inning of a tie game at Chicago and go-ahead run was on third.

Chris Speier surprised even his own manager, Jim Frey, by laying down a perfect squeeze bunt.

“I saw that third baseman Rick Schu was playing deep,” Speier said, “and I decided it was the right play.”

Lee Smith pitched two shutout innings of relief to improve his record to 6-4.