National League Roundup : Against Reds, Padres Discover a New Formula: Wynne + Gwynn = Win

When the San Diego Padres acquired Marvell Wynne from Pittsburgh just over a week ago, they expected him to help them win some games in the late innings--with speed on the bases and defense in the outfield.

Certainly not with power at the plate.

But Wynne hit two late-inning home runs, and Tony Gwynn had three hits, including a homer, as the Padres beat the Cincinnati Reds, 7-6, Sunday at San Diego.

“I didn’t know Marvell Wynne could hit a ball that far,” said an astonished Pete Rose, the Reds’ manager.

Wynne, who had just nine home runs in his previous three years in the major leagues, hit a seventh inning pinch homer off Tom Browning to start a three-run rally that gave San Diego a 6-5 lead.

After Cincinnati rookie Kal Daniels tied the game with a solo homer off San Diego relief ace Rich Gossage in the top of the ninth, Wynne won it in the bottom half with a leadoff homer against Joe Price.

“The two home runs surprised me,” said Wynne, who hit two last season for the Pirates. “But I have the capability of hitting home runs.”

Browning, a 20-game winner in 1985 who was seeking his 12th consecutive victory dating back to last Aug. 9, took a 5-3 lead into the seventh when Wynne batted for Gene Walter and homered. A one-out single by Gwynn chased Browning and Kevin McReynolds hit John Franco’s first pitch over the wall in left-center to give the Padres a 6-5 lead. It was his second home run of the season.

Dave Parker hit his third homer for the Reds.

The Padres set a major league record with their seventh consecutive one-run game at the start of the season. The Dodgers equaled the record Sunday by beating the San Francisco Giants, 3-2.

Montreal 3, St. Louis 2--Mitch Webster and Herm Winningham hit solo home runs at St. Louis and the Expos handed the Cardinals their first defeat after four wins.

Montreal broke a 1-1 tie against Kurt Kepshire (0-1) when Webster homered with two out in the fifth. Winningham matched it an inning later for a 3-1 lead.

Bryn Smith (1-1) pitched six innings to pick up the victory. Jeff Reardon got the save with two innings of scoreless relief.

Expo reliever Tim Burke came in and gave up a run-scoring double to Vince Coleman in the seventh but struck out Willie McGee and Tom Herr to end the inning.

Pittsburgh 8, Chicago 0--Mike Brown drove in four runs with a three-run homer and a single, and Johnny Ray knocked in three more runs as the Pirates overpowered the Cubs at Pittsburgh.

Rick Reuschel (1-0) combined on a four-hitter with Bob Walk and Jim Winn, who each pitched an inning. Reuschel allowed three hits, walked one and struck out one in seven innings.

Ray, who went 3 for 5, doubled home two runs in the first inning against Rick Sutcliffe (0-2). Ray singled home another run in a two-run fourth inning that gave Pittsburgh a 5-0 lead. Sutcliffe gave up seven hits and walked five in his four innings of work.

Philadelphia 4, New York 2--Darren Daulton hit a two-run homer and Gary Redus added a solo shot to back Shane Rawley in the Phillies’ victory over the Mets at Philadelphia.

Rawley (1-0) scattered 10 hits, walked one and struck out one while going all the way in a steady drizzle. He lost his shutout in the eighth on two-out doubles by Keith Hernandez and Gary Carter. Ray Knight hit his second home run in as many games in the ninth.

Von Hayes singled in the sixth and scored the Phillies’ final run on a double by Glenn Wilson.

Atlanta 8, Houston 7--Ken Oberkfell drove in four runs and Billy Sample added a three-run homer as the Braves outlasted the Astros at Houston.

Joe Johnson (1-0) allowed three runs and four hits over 5 innings to get the victory. Gene Garber got the last two outs in the ninth to record his first save.

Oberkfell singled home a run in the second and the Braves made it 5-0 against Mike Scott (0-2) with four more in the fourth, three on Sample’s homer.