National League Roundup : Light-Hitting Giants Play Big Role in 12-7 Win

The San Francisco Giants do not have Rob Thompson and Jose Uribe in the lineup because of their prowess with the bat. The Giants are convinced the youngsters will develop into an outstanding second-base combination.

Anything they do at the plate is a big plus. The two infielders each had three hits and drove in two runs Saturday at San Francisco to lead the Giants to a 12-7 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Thompson, a 24-year-old rookie second baseman, hit his first major league home run in the second inning and singled home a run in an eight-run fifth inning that broke the game open. Uribe, a 27-year-old second-year shortstop, singled to begin the big rally and doubled to drive in two runs later in the inning.

Mike Krukow drove in the last run in the fifth to give himself an 11-4 lead. Although he wound up the winner, Krukow (5-3) didn’t make it through the next inning.

“Some people figure it’s a bonus if Jose and I hit,” Thompson said. “But I figure it’s part of our job. We’re not going to hit a lot of home runs, but we can get on base and move runners along.”

Thompson, who also had a double, is batting .345 for the last 16 games and has raised his average to .277. Uribe batted .237 last season. His three hits lifted his average for this season to .364.

“The big difference this year,” Uribe said, “is that I’m not hitting as many fly balls. I’ve paid attention to (batting coach) Jose Morales. He wanted me to start hitting down on the ball so I can use my speed.”

Manager Roger Craig has been impressed by his youngsters. “I knew Uribe was an outstanding fielder, but he’s hitting the ball better than I ever expected,” he said. “Thompson has been unbelievable. He’s mentally in the game more than any other young player I’ve been around. He seldom makes a mental mistake in the field. He’s capable of being a .265-plus hitter.”

Pittsburgh 4, Cincinnati 0--Rick Reuschel threw a five-hitter at Cincinnati for the first complete game of the season by a Pirate pitcher. But Manager Jim Leyland wasn’t around to see it.

Leyland was ejected in the sixth when he argued too strenuously over an out call at the plate just before the Pirates scored their first run on Tony Pena’s single.

Sid Bream had two hits to extend his hitting streak to 12 games. He scored the first run and drove in another.

Mario Soto gave up seven hits in 7 innings as he joined Rick Sutcliffe of the Chicago Cubs as the league’s only six-game losers.

Atlanta 2, St. Louis 0--Joe Johnson had a no-hitter until two were out in the sixth inning at Atlanta and held the Cardinals to three hits in eight innings to improve his record to 5-3.

Danny Cox matched Johnson’s scoreless-inning string until the eighth, when Bob Horner, after an intentional walk to Dale Murphy, doubled off the center-field fence to drive in both runs.

Bruce Sutter retired the last three Cardinals, two on strikes.

Vince Coleman, who had two of the Cardinals’ three hits, broke up the no-hitter with a single.

Houston 5, Chicago 1--The Astros managed to reach first place without much help from Jose Cruz, so maybe they will be tough to dislodge now that Cruz is reaching top form.

Cruz, hobbled by a knee injury all season, singled three times in this game at Houston, driving in a run each time. Friday night, he was 2 for 4, scoring twice and driving in a run.

Mike Scott, who struck out a career-high nine batters in eight innings, improved his record to 4-2.

The victory enabled the Astros to stay one game in front in the West.

San Diego 5, Montreal 3--Tim Flannery’s pinch double in the sixth inning at San Diego broke a 3-3 tie and helped end the Padres’ four-game home losing streak.

The Expos scored all their runs on home runs for the second game in a row. Wayne Krenchicki, Hubie Brooks and Tim Raines homered off LaMarr Hoyt for the Expos, who lead the league with 45 home runs.

Hoyt earned his first win of the season, and Rich Gossage pitched the last two innings for his seventh save.