National League Roundup : Carlton Gets a Win Worth a Few Words From Osteen

As just about everyone knows, Steve Carlton does not talk to the media. His designated spokesman, former Dodger pitcher Claude Osteen, is convinced, however, that the 41-year-old left-hander has made it almost all the way back from a rotator-cuff injury.

Carlton gave up five hits and three runs in 5 innings Wednesday at Montreal in the Philadelphia Phillies’ 5-4 victory over the Expos. It was his first victory in more than 11 months and matched his win total of 1985 when the injury accounted for his 1-8 record.

“His stuff has been getting better each time out, and this win will mean a lot for him,” said Osteen, the Phillie pitching coach. “It will make him believe in himself again.”

Some others, including the National League hitters, are learning that the man who was judged the best pitcher in the game for more than a decade seems to be back.

In Carlton’s first start this season, on opening day, the Cincinnati Reds clubbed him for nine hits and seven runs in four innings. In his next start, television announcers Vin Scully and Joe Garagiola feared that his fastball was gone.

But last Friday, Carlton struck out 10 New York Mets. His one problem now seems to be control. He walked six Expos and has walked 14 in the last 12 innings. At his peak, control was the least of Carlton’s problem. Look for him to get it under control soon.

A bases-loaded triple by Steve Jeltz in the fourth inning was the key blow as the Phillies ended a five-game losing streak and Carlton won the 315th game of his career.

Chicago 6, St. Louis 0--Last season, on their way to the league championship, the Cardinals had the highest batting average and scored the most runs in the National League.

But when Scott Sanderson shut them out with five hits in this game at Chicago, it was the second time in the last three games that they have been blanked. Their team average has dropped below .220.

“I don’t want to take anything away from Sanderson,” Cardinal Manager Whitey Herzog said, “but we haven’t been hitting anybody lately. I hope it’s all the rainouts and cold. I kind of hope that’s the reason.”

For the second day in a row, Ryne Sandberg keyed the Cub attack. He had three hits, scored two runs and drove in one.

San Diego 7, Cincinnati 4--Andy Hawkins and four relievers, one of them LaMarr Hoyt, helped the Padres end a four-game losing streak despite Dave Parker’s grand slam at Cincinnati.

Hoyt, in his second appearance of the season, struck out two batters with two on in the seventh to keep the Padres in front.

It was the fourth loss in a row for the Reds, and, immediately after the game, player-manager Pete Rose took himself off the disabled list and prepared to play for the first time this season.

The Reds jumped to a 4-2 lead in the third when Parker hit the sixth grand slam of his career and his fifth homer of the season. But John Denny couldn’t hold the lead.

Houston 3, Atlanta 2--Just when the Braves thought that Bruce Sutter was back in the groove, the bullpen ace let them down again.

With the Braves leading, 2-1, the Astros, blanked on four hits in eight innings by Zane Smith, had two on and two out when Sutter was brought to the rescue.

In his previous two appearances, Sutter had six strikeouts in three innings and had registered a save. But in this one, he walked Alan Ashby to load the bases and Craig Reynolds ripped a two-run single to give the Astros the win and a 10-4 record, tops in the West.