National League Roundup : Astros’ Knepper Puts No. 5 in Refrigerator, 6-3

Bob Knepper is known as a cool-weather pitcher, but what he faced Friday at Montreal was ridiculous.

The temperature was 40 degrees, and the wind was gusting to 50 m.p.h. In that kind of weather the talented left-hander was just glad to get out after pitching six innings of the Houston Astros’ 6-3 victory over the Expos.

Knepper became the National League’s first five-game winner. For the second year in a row, Knepper has opened 5-0. The fast start last season led to a 15-13 record.

“You always like to pitch a complete game, but with cold weather like this, I was happy to get into the clubhouse,” he said.

“I know I was 5-0 last season, too, but I wasn’t nearly as good a pitcher. It was the end of May by the time I got there.

“The big difference now is that I’ve been throwing better and I’ve been around the plate more. I’ve also been the beneficiary of a lot more hitting and much better defense.”

Jose Cruz provided the offensive impetus in this game. He had run-scoring singles in the first inning and again in the seventh.

When Tim Raines tripled in the sixth and scored on Mitch Webster’s sacrifice fly, it was only the second time in 34 innings Knepper has pitched this season that he had given up a run. It also snapped a string of 19 scoreless innings.

The Astros are off to the best start in their history with a 15-6 record, and Knepper has become their ace.

“I’ve always regarded him as one of the best left-handers in the game,” new Astro Manager Hal Lanier said. “I’ve always thought he should be a 20-game winner. Maybe this will be the year he does it.”

Montreal Manager Bob Rodgers said the cold bothered his starter, Floyd Youmans, too.

“We know Floyd is not a cold-weather pitcher,” Rodgers said. “He had trouble gripping the ball, and that made it difficult on his control.”

New York 8, Cincinnati 7--Despite a five-run eighth inning rally at Cincinnati, the Reds’ losing streak was extended to six games.

Jesse Orosco finally stopped the Reds with the tying run on third base in the eighth and breezed through the ninth to give the Mets their 12th win in the last 13 games.

Orosco came in with two on, one out and the Mets leading, 8-6. He struck out Dave Parker, then wild-pitched in a run before getting Nick Esasky on a pop-out to end the threat.

After two sharp outings, Sid Fernandez pitched another agony game. He gave up five hits and walked six in 5 innings but improved his record to 3-0.

Atlanta 7, Philadelphia 1--David Palmer struck out nine and gave up only five hits to pitch his first nine-inning complete game in almost four years.

The Braves pounded Steve Carlton (1-4) for five hits and five runs in the first two innings. Once one of the best control pitchers, Carlton walked five in four innings.

Palmer pitched a five-inning perfect game in April 1984, for his last previous complete effort.

Bob Horner led the Brave attack with four hits, all singles. He drove in two runs and scored two others.

Pittsburgh 4, San Diego 0--Rookie Mike Bielecki and two relief pitchers combined on a four-hitter at San Diego.

Dave Dravecky and Bielecki were scoreless until the Pirates broke it open in the seventh. A walk and a single by Mike Diaz set the stage for Tony Pena to single home the first run. Another run came in on Sid Bream’s long fly. Two more hits produced two more runs.

When Bielecki gave up a hit and a walk to start the bottom of the seventh, Pat Clements and finally Jim Winn came to the rescue.

Chicago 6, San Francisco 5--Shawon Dunston’s third of four hits in the game, a two-run double in the seventh inning, sent the Cubs ahead and they rebounded from two consecutive shutout losses to beat the Giants at Candlestick Park.

Chicago scored four runs in the seventh, two charged to Jeff Robinson and two to loser Mark Davis (1-2). The Cubs, shut out by the Dodgers the previous two nights, ended a string of 23 scoreless innings when they broke through for a run in the fourth against Giant starter Juan Berenguer.

Matt Keough (2-1), the third Chicago pitcher, got the victory. Jay Baller pitched the final three innings for his fourth save.