National League Roundup : Carlton Contributes to Giants’ Win

Steve Carlton, in his first significant contribution to his new team, pitched seven scoreless innings Saturday night at Pittsburgh in the San Francisco Giants’ 9-0 victory over the Pirates.

Bob Brenly drove in four runs with a pair of doubles, but it was the three-hit performance of the 41-year-old left-hander that had the Giants excited and back within 1 1/2 games of first in the West.

How Carlton felt about his first victory for a team other than the Philadelphia Phillies since 1971 remains a mystery. After his first win in his fourth start as a Giant, Carlton sent word he again does not want to talk with the media.

Carlton made 111 pitches, about 10 of them the split-fingered fastball that Giant Manager Roger Craig taught him.

“It was his best outing,” Craig said. “He pitched out of some jams, and his velocity was more consistent than it has been. He could have pitched longer, but I asked him how he felt and he said he was pretty much at the end of his rope. There was no sense taking a chance.”

In his three previous starts for the Giants, Carlton’s longest stint was six innings. He had an 0-2 record and had given up 9 earned runs in 14 innings.

“You want your starters to keep you close for five or six innings,” Brenly said. “What he did tonight was above and beyond the call of duty. It’s a great pick-me-up for the team and I’m sure it was for him, too.”

Carlton (5-10) earned his 319th career victory, walking four and striking out five before giving way to Frank Williams in the eighth. He entered the game with a 6.12 earned-run average for the season.

The only sour note was cast by Pittsburgh Manager Jim Leyland. “I don’t want to take anything away from Steve,” Leyland said, “but if you give anybody a big lead at the start, it makes it easier for them.”

The Pirates had one serious threat. They loaded the bases with one out in the fifth. But Bill Almon struck out, and Tony Pena grounded out.

St. Louis 4, San Diego 2--At long last, Manager Whitey Herzog is beginning to see signs of his pennant-winning 1985 Cardinals. When they scored three times in the first inning at St. Louis, it marked the 10th time in the last 11 games they scored in their first time at-bat.

“We’ve won five in a row, even though we’re without two key players, Jack (Clark) and Willie (McGee),” Herzog said. “It’s tough to get excited when you’re 22 games out of first place. It’s hard to get excited about going to a funeral. But we are starting to play baseball.”

Greg Mathews, brought up in late May, improved his record to 6-2. He held the Padres in check until the seventh, when he wilted in the high humidity and 100-degree heat. Rick Horton pitched the last 2 innings to gain his second save.

Philadelphia 3, Houston 2--Von Hayes and Gary Redus hit home runs at Philadelphia to enable Dan Carman to improve his record to 3-2.

Carman gave up six hits in six innings before Tom Hume and Dan Schatzeder came out of the bullpen to shut down the Astros.

Cincinnati 7, Montreal 6--Bo Diaz drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk in the ninth inning at Cincinnati off rookie Bob Sebra to give the Reds an uphill victory.

The Expos jumped on Mario Soto for an early 4-1 lead. Dave Parker hit a two-run homer in the sixth to put the Reds back into the game. It was his league-leading 23rd and his seventh in 11 games.

Diaz, who drove in four runs, homered in the eighth to give the Reds a 6-5 lead, but the Expos tied the score in the top of the ninth.

Atlanta 4-8, New York 3-5--Even a doubleheader loss at Atlanta to a team that had won only two of its previous 16 games didn’t do much to the Mets’ dash to the title in the East. However, it does cast some aspersions on their renowned pitching staff.

In the opener, Dwight Gooden retired the first 12 batters, gave up three runs in the fifth and was long gone when Ted Simmons drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the ninth. Gooden is 1-1 in July.

In the second game, the Mets’ 12-game winner, Sid Fernandez, was chased in the fifth when he failed to retire any of the six batters he faced. He led, 3-0, going into the fifth. Simmons, Terry Harper and Ken Oberkfell singled for a run. After a walk, Glenn Hubbard hit a three-run double and Fernandez was a loser.