National League Roundup : Houston’s Knepper Wins 10th

Bob Knepper gave up only four hits Tuesday night at San Diego and became the National League’s first 10-game winner as the Houston Astros trounced the Padres, 12-1.

Knepper, in pitching his sixth complete game this season, struck out five and did not walk a batter. He lost his shutout in the eighth when Terry Kennedy hit a home run.

At that stage, Knepper, already holding a huge lead, seemed more interested in just throwing strikes than in getting his shutout.

Kevin Bass hit a two-run home run and Bill Doran hit a solo homer to support the veteran left-hander, who is 10-3. Knepper was a 15-game winner for the Astros each of the last two seasons.

It was the ninth loss in the last 12 games for the Padres, who dropped into fifth place in the West, behind the Dodgers.

The Astros jumped all over Dave Dravecky (5-6), who went into the game with the second-best earned-run average (2.25) in the league. He gave up seven hits and six earned runs in 4 innings, his shortest outing of the season.

Bass and Doran hit two of the four home runs the Astros hit against the Padres on Monday night.

San Francisco 3, Atlanta 0--Vida Blue came through with a strong performance at San Francisco to keep the Giants just two games behind in the West.

Blue gave up just two hits in seven innings to even his record at 3-3 and gain his 202nd major league victory. Jeff Robinson gave up one hit in the last two innings to save it.

Jeffrey Leonard, who had three hits, drove in two runs to lead the Giant assault on Zane Smith (5-6). The defeat dropped the Braves five games back in the West.

New York 8, Philadelphia 4--The Phillies kept getting in front at New York, but the Mets kept catching up until the 11th, when Tim Teufel hit a pinch grand slam to break up the game.

The Phillies led, 1-0, and 4-3. Gary Carter’s second home run of the game tied the score, 4-4, in the bottom of the eighth.

Ray Knight led off the bottom of the 11th with an infield hit of loser Randy Lerch (0-1). Knight went to second on an infield out and pinch-hitter Barry Lyon was given an intentional walk. Len Dykstra also walked to set the stage for Teufel, batting for Wally Backman. Teufel hit reliever Tom Hume’s 2-0 pitch over the fence in left center for his second home run of the season and first grand slam ever.

Roger McDowell pitched two scoreless innings to improve his record to 6-0.

Pittsburgh 6, Chicago 4--Former Dodger Sid Bream hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning at Pittsburgh and it turned out to be his first game-winning hit.

Light-hitting shortstop Rafael Belliard delivered a two-out, two-run single in the seventh to clinch the victory for former Angel pitcher Bob Kipper. Kipper (2-5) gave up eight hits and two runs and struck out six in seven innings.

Belliard, who was batting .218 going into the game, and Bream each had three hits.

It was the second win in a row for the Pirates over the Cubs, who are 9-21 on the road this season. The Pirates are 11-21 at home.

Montreal 4, St. Louis 2--The Cardinals continue to show little resemblance to the team that had the best record in the majors last season.

In this game at St. Louis, Tim Wallach drove in three runs and Jay Tibbs won for the first time in eight starts going back to April 30.

The Cardinals, last in the East, have won only 22 of 54 games this season.

Hubie Brooks had three hits for the Expos to raise his average to .335.

Tibbs pitched six innings, giving up five hits and both Cardinal runs. Jeff Reardon pitched the last two innings to gain his 14th save.