National League Roundup : Parker Hits a Notable Home Run

Dave Parker reached the 1,000-runs-batted-in milestone in the best way possible Tuesday night--with a tie-breaking, two-run homer that lifted the Cincinnati Reds past the St. Louis Cardinals, 5-3, at St. Louis.

“If you’re gonna get 1,000 RBIs, that’s the best way to do it,” Parker said after his seventh-inning shot went well over the right-field wall and sent the Cardinals to their sixth straight defeat.

“Now I’m looking forward to getting 2,000 hits later this year,” said Parker, who has 1,891 lifetime hits.

Parker’s homer came off left-hander Ricky Horton, who was brought in by Cardinal Manager Whitey Herzog to pitch to the left-handed hitting Parker.

“It was a curveball, and I’m sure he (Horton) wanted to get it out and make me reach for it,” Parker said of the pitch he hit for the homer. “But it just hung there and as soon as I hit it I knew it was gone.”

Rookie Tracy Jones began the seventh with a single off reliever Greg Bargar (0-1) and stole second. Dave Concepcion sacrificed Jones to third, and Parker followed with his homer.

Bill Gullickson (3-3) allowed one run and 10 hits in eight innings. John Franco came on in the ninth for his sixth save.

San Diego 4, Philadelphia 3--Kevin McReynolds hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning to break a scoreless tie and lead the Padres over the Phillies at San Diego.

McReynolds’ sixth home run of the year came on a 3-0 pitch by Kevin Gross (3-4), who allowed seven hits in eight innings, walking one and striking out three.

Eric Show (3-2) walked four and struck out 12 in going 8 innings. Rich Gossage, who entered the game with the bases loaded, earned his eighth save despite allowing a two-run double by pinch-hitter Ron Roenicke on his first pitch and letting the final run score on an infield groundout by Jeff Stone.

Atlanta 8, Chicago 3--Dale Murphy hit a two-run homer and Ozzie Virgil added a bases-empty shot as the Braves won their fifth in a row with the win at Atlanta.

Murphy’s eighth homer of the season carried to the left-field seats in the third inning after Omar Moreno had doubled and gave Atlanta a 4-3 lead.

The Braves scored in the first when Moreno doubled and later scored on Murphy’s grounder to second.

Virgil hit his fifth homer in the second, and Atlanta broke the game open with three unearned runs in the fourth aided by third baseman Keith Moreland’s fielding error and shortstop Shawon Dunston’s throwing error.

David Palmer (3-2) allowed six hits, one walk and struck out six in seven innings. Gene Garber worked the final two innings for Atlanta.

Chicago starter Scott Sanderson (2-2) gave up six hits and seven runs in three innings.

Pittsburgh 4, Houston 2--Mike Brown hit a three-run homer with with one out in the ninth inning to lift the Pirates over Nolan Ryan and the Astros at Houston.

Ryan (3-6) carried a two-hitter into the ninth when R.J. Reynolds led off with a single and Johnny Ray followed with an infield single. Sid Bream forced Ray at second, and Brown followed with his third homer of the season to left.

Reliever Bob Walk (2-0) drove in the Pirates’ fourth run in the ninth with a single to score Junior Ortiz, who had doubled.

Over 8 innings Ryan allowed six hits and struck out nine. The nine strikeouts increased his major league record total to 4,140. He walked three.

Ryan, who has lost four straight, has pitched 4,001 major league innings, becoming only the 32nd pitcher to hurl 4,000 or more innings.

New York 2, San Francisco 1--Ray Knight led off the eighth inning with a double and later scored on a passed ball by Giant catcher Bob Brenly to give the Mets the win at San Francisco.

Bob Ojeda, with relief help from Roger McDowell, won a pitching duel over Mike LaCoss. Ojeda (6-1) allowed five hits in seven innings, striking out three and walking none. LaCoss (4-1) allowed four hits, struck out five and walked none in eight innings. McDowell earned his fourth save, allowing two hits in two innings.