National League Roundup : Blue Handcuffs Reds; Giants Do the Rest, 2-1

The San Francisco Giants may have struck out with their Steve Carlton experiment, but they are still getting dividends from their decision last year to give Vida Blue another chance.

While injuries and other problems have plagued the Giants’ bid for the Western Division title, Blue has been one of the most dependable members of the pitching staff.

Blue wasn’t the winner at San Francisco Wednesday when the Giants beat the Cincinnati Reds, 2-1, to pull within four games of the division-leading Houston Astros. Blue was long gone when rookie Mike Aldrete singled with the bases loaded and two out in the 14th inning.

But it was another solid performance by the 37-year-old left-hander that kept the Giants in the game. Blue kept the Reds hitless until Bo Diaz doubled with one out in the fifth and held the Reds to one run and three hits in eight innings.

It was the 13th start for Blue since he became a regular member of the rotation in early June, and he has been shelled in only one of them. In the others, he has pitched well enough to give the Giants a chance to win.

In 1971 Blue was the sensation of baseball when he had a 24-8 record for Oakland in his first full season in the majors. His life started going downhill shortly thereafter.

It hit bottom in 1984 when he served 81 days in jail on a drug charge and was suspended for the season. The Giants invited him to spring training in 1985, signed him and stuck him in the bullpen. By late July he was in the starting rotation.

In a victory last week, Blue’s fastball was clocked at 93 m.p.h. He has an 8-6 record and has yielded only three earned runs in his last 20 innings.

Blue had to be sharp in this one, because Red starter Tom Browning gave up only three hits in seven innings and retired 19 in a row during one stretch.

“I think he (Vida) was a little slow getting into condition,” Giant Manager Roger Craig said. “But he’s in top shape now and his pitching shows it. We know when he goes out there, we’ll be in the game.”

New York 7, Chicago 6--Mookie Wilson’s broken-bat single drove in two runs in the 12th inning of the opener at Chicago, and the Mets led the nightcap, 6-4, before darkness stopped play after seven innings. The suspended game will be completed before today’s scheduled game.

There was a shock, though, for the Mets. For the first time in his brilliant young career, Dwight Gooden gave up a game-tying home run in the ninth inning. Gooden held a 5-3 lead when Thad Bosley singled with one out in the ninth. Jody Davis hit a fly ball that the wind carried over the fence in left, and Gooden missed a chance for the victory.

Gooden, who struck out nine, also served up a home run to Ryne Sandberg in the third inning of the opener.

In the second game, the Mets teed off on Steve Trout, who gave up nine hits, four walks and six runs in five innings. Gary Carter hit a two-run home run off Trout in the fifth. Trout had gone 96 innings since giving up his previous home run.

St. Louis 2, Philadelphia 1--The Cardinals won the pennant last season by running the opposition into submission. They are starting to do the same thing again this season.

In this game at St. Louis, balks contributed to both runs. With the score tied, 1-1, in the bottom of the eighth, Ozzie Smith bluffed running home, and Don Carman hurried his windup and was called for a balk.

In the fourth inning, Vince Coleman singled and went to second on Carman’s balk. It was the 16th balk caused by the Cardinal speedster this season. Tommy Herr singled Coleman home.

Rookie Greg Mathews improved his record to 7-3 by pitching a strong eight innings. Todd Worrell pitched the ninth to get his 22nd save. He tied the National League rookie save record set by Rawley Eastwick of Cincinnati in 1975.

Montreal 3, Pittsburgh 2--Tim Raines and Mitch Webster hit run-scoring triples at Pittsburgh to help Floyd Youmans improve his record to 11-7.

Youmans gave up five hits and both Pirate runs in seven innings. Bob McClure and Jeff Reardon each pitched a scoreless inning in relief. It was Reardon’s 25th save.

The loser was Rick Rhoden (11-7), who had a string of 19 scoreless innings until the Expos rallied for three runs in the third.

Atlanta 4, San Diego 2--LaMarr Hoyt was pitching a five-hitter and had a 2-1 lead going into the ninth inning at San Diego, only to wind up a loser again (5-8).

A single and a walk brought in Rich Gossage. Bob Horner doubled in one run, and Rafael Ramirez singled in two more to win it.