National League Roundup : Pirates Lose and Say They Were Short Shrifted

When it rains on the Pittsburgh Pirates, it pours--even at home.

Jack Clark backed Danny Cox’s four-hit pitching with a home run Monday night as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-1, in a rain-shortened, protested game at Pittsburgh.

The game was called after two rain delays totaling 39 minutes with the Cardinals batting with one out in the top of the sixth.

“That’s the quickest I’ve ever seen a game called in any league. This has to go down in the Guinness Book of World Records,” said Syd Thrift, Pirate general manager. Pirate Manager Jim Leyland said he would file an official protest. “I’ve never heard of any game being called in less than 45 minutes,” he said. “We didn’t get something we had coming.”

The first delay lasted 17 minutes, but losing pitcher Rick Rhoden managed to throw only two pitches before play was halted again for 22 minutes.

San Diego 4, San Francisco 0--Andy Hawkins pitched a seven-hitter and Garry Templeton highlighted a three-run seventh inning with a two-run single as the Padres shut out the Giants at San Diego.

The game was scoreless until the sixth when Marvell Wynne hit a one-out solo homer.

Steve Garvey led off the Padres’ seventh with a single for his 2,500th career hit. Graig Nettles singled him to second and Terry Kennedy was safe on a fielder’s choice when he bunted to the pitcher and the Giants failed to get Garvey at third base.

Templeton followed with his single to center and pinch-hitter Carmelo Martinez walked. Two outs later, Tony Gwynn walked to force in the third run of the inning.

Atlanta 4, Cincinnati 3--Ken Oberkfell singled past drawn-in second baseman Ron Oester to score Dale Murphy from third base with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning as the Braves edged the Reds at Atlanta.

With one out, Murphy walked off losing reliever John Franco (0-4). Bob Horner singled to send Murphy to third. Horner took second on center fielder Eddie Milner’s throw to third and Oberkfell bounced a 2-and-2 pitch just past Oester.

Chicago 7, Philadelphia 5--Shawon Dunston hit a two-run double to cap a four-run fourth inning, and Leon Durham belted a two-run homer in the fifth at Chicago as the Cubs beat the Phillies.

Rookie Jamie Moyer, making his major league debut, gave up five runs over 6 innings to gain the victory. Jay Baller pitched one inning before giving way to Lee Smith, who posted his ninth save.

Steve Carlton (4-8) got the loss.

New York 4, Montreal 1--Darryl Strawberry singled home Wally Backman with the go-ahead run and Len Dykstra added a two-run single in the 10th inning at Montreal to lift the Mets to their seventh straight victory.

The start of the game was delayed 1 hour 26 minutes because of rain and there was another rain delay of 38 minutes in the bottom of the fifth.