National League Roundup : Hot-Hitting Clark Is Finally Stopped by Astros’ Kerfeld

Charlie Kerfeld is proving to be a big asset for the Houston Astros. The 6-6 right-hander put a damper on the San Francisco Giants’ home opener Tuesday when he pitched four scoreless innings to save an 8-3 victory.

In three appearances out of the bullpen, Kerfeld has a save and a win and nine scoreless innings. He struck out six Giants to give him 10 strikeouts, and he has given up only four hits.

Although a morning rain prevented the teams from taking batting practice, the hitters were in charge until Kerfeld took over. The Astros’ Phil Garner hit home runs in his first two at-bats to account for four runs, and teammate Glenn Davis hit a three-run home run for the Astros.

Will Clark, the Giants’ phenomenal rookie, drew a standing ovation in the fifth inning from a Candlestick Park crowd of 46,638 after he hit a two-run home run off Bob Knepper. Earlier, he had been “held” to a pair of singles. Last week at Dodger Stadium, the left-handed-hitting first baseman had three hits in a row off another left-hander, Fernando Valenzuela.

But Kerfeld stopped the youngster. With runners on second and third, two out in the sixth inning of a 5-3 game, he disposed of Clark on a bouncer back to the mound, and it was the Giants’ last threat.

Kerfeld joined the Astros late last season and was unsuccessful as a starter. The Astros sent him to the bullpen, from where he finished the season with 13 scoreless innings. By the end of the year, however, he weighed about 280 and was ordered to lose 40 pounds during the off-season as the Astros sent him to a “fat farm.”

The weight loss hasn’t hurt his effectiveness.

Kerfeld’s family lives in Carson City, Nev. Most of the family attended the game.

“It was the most special game of my career,” the 22-year-old rookie said. “When I was called in, I wanted to do the job.

“I don’t think Mr. Lanier (Manager Hal Lanier) took me seriously, at first. By now, I think they do.”

There were several reasons why he wasn’t taken seriously--his weight, his punk rock haircut, his affinity for “slam-dancing,” where partners bump heads, and his reputation as a happy-go-lucky prankster. But the Astros and National League hitters are taking him seriously, now.

“The thing I like about him,” teammate Nolan Ryan said, “is he is so competitive.”

Cincinnati 5, Atlanta 3--After hitting a three-run home run in the eighth inning to give the Reds a lead, Dave Parker made a game-saving catch to end it at Atlanta.

Parker’s fourth home run of the season wiped out a 2-1 Brave lead. It was 5-3 in the ninth and the Braves had a runner on when Parker raced back to the warning track to make a backhand grab of Ted Simmons’ long smash.

Parker’s home run came off Jeff Dedmon, who was brought in to protect a lead after Zane Smith walked Eric Davis to start the eighth. Surprisingly, Manager Chuck Tanner had gone to Dedmon instead of bullpen ace Bruce Sutter.

Montreal 4, Chicago 3--Lee Smith walked Mitch Webster with the bases loaded in the 11th to give the Expos a victory in their home opener.

Dan Schatzeder, a pitcher used as a pinch-hitter when the Expos ran short of players, led off the 11th with a walk and scored the winning run. Smith, considered the ace of the Cub bullpen, is 0-2.