National League Roundup : Worrell Gains 21st Save as Cardinals Hold Off Phillies

Manager Whitey Herzog of the St. Louis Cardinals has said he would not trade his rookie bullpen ace, Todd Worrell, for any relief pitcher in the game.

The Philadelphia Phillies, particularly sluggers Mike Schmidt and Von Hayes, can appreciate Herzog’s feelings.

With the Cardinals leading, 5-3, the Phillies had the bases loaded and one out in the seventh inning Wednesday night at Philadelphia. That’s when Herzog brought in the 6-5 right-hander.

Worrell threw two fastballs to Schmidt, who then popped up. When Hayes flied out, the threat was over. Worrell pitched two more scoreless innings, the Cardinals won, 6-3, and Worrell earned his 21st save.

The major league record for saves by a rookie is 23, set by Doug Corbett of Minnesota in 1980. Although Worrell barely missed being a World Series star, he qualifies as a rookie.

He joined the Cardinals for the 1985 stretch drive, pitching 21 innings. He also won a championship series game and set a World Series record with six consecutive strikeouts.

“Facing Mike Schmidt with the bases loaded is the toughest situation you can come into,” Worrell said. “You’re facing the RBI leader. You can’t make a mistake.”

In an otherwise dismal season for the Cardinals, Herzog gets excited about the 26-year-old former Biola star.

“Put Todd down as your rookie of the year,” Herzog said. “Not Kevin Mitchell (New York Mets), not Rob Thompson (San Francisco). Nobody knows he (Worrell) is a rookie.

“He throws 93 to 95 m.p.h., throws strikes and he’s big. He scares the hell out of you.”

Houston 4, Atlanta 2--Rookie Jim Deshaies held the Braves to two hits in eight innings at Houston and, with last-out help from Dave Smith, improved his record to 6-3.

The young pitcher is being counted on to help make up for the absence of Nolan Ryan, who is again having an elbow problem.

Glenn Davis hit his 23rd home run to tie Cincinnati’s Dave Parker for the league lead.

Deshaies, who struck out nine, gave up three hits and two runs in the ninth.

Montreal 3, Pittsburgh 2--Wallace Johnson, recalled from Indianapolis shortly before game time at Montreal, opened the seventh inning with his first major league home run to get the Expos even.

Later in the inning, Andre Dawson walked and Hubie Brooks, returning after missing eight games with a thumb injury, singled him to third. Dawson scored the winning run on Jim Winn’s wild pitch.

Jeff Reardon got the last four outs to pick up his 23rd save. It was only the Expos’ fourth win in their last 15 games.

San Diego 9, Cincinnati 3--Graig Nettles drove in five runs with a pair of home runs as the Padres completed their sweep of the three-game series at San Diego.

Ed Whitson went 7 innings to gain his first victory since being traded back to the Padres by the New York Yankees July 9.

The two home runs gave Nettles 382 in his career, tying him for 24th place with former Dodger Frank Howard.

Chicago 4, New York 3--The first nine outs registered by Sid Fernandez in this rain-delayed game at New York were strikeouts. However, at the end of three innings, he trailed, 4-1.

Fernandez walked the bases loaded in the first inning, and Ron Cey lined a three-run double off the wall in left. In the third, Gary Matthews hammered his 12th home run.

The rains came in the top of the sixth and halted play for almost two hours.

Fernandez, who struck out 11 in five innings, lost for the second time in a row, and his record fell to 12-4.