Durham Donates a Home Run as Cubs Turn Back Pirates

In a sense, Leon Durham and Lee Smith of the Chicago Cubs were doing it for the kids.

Durham hit a home run and knocked in two runs, and Smith pitched two innings of scoreless relief as the Chicago Cubs defeated Pittsburgh, 3-1, at Chicago’s Wrigley Field Tuesday.

Durham donates $750 to a Chicago high school every time he hits a homer, and Smith found out during the game that he is about to become a father for the first time.

“I’m scratching my head right now,” a jubilant Smith said after checking the Pirates on one hit for his 22nd save.

“I hope my wife has a good pregnancy and we have a healthy kid,” he said.

Asked if he would request a day off when the child is born, Smith said: “It depends on if it’s a save opportunity.”

Smith said he was cheering on Durham, who had been in a slump before lashing two hits in the game.

“I’ve been screaming at him about not hitting home runs, not wanting to buy any books for kids in the city,” Smith laughed.

“But it seems I get a save every time he hits a home run.”

It was Durham’s 100th homer as a Cub.

Scott Sanderson gave up a leadoff homer to Barry Bonds and a single to Bobby Bonilla, then shut out the Pirates on four hits before giving way to Smith.

The loss spoiled a strong performance by Pittsburgh’s Larry McWilliams, who gave up three runs in 5 innings.

“I thought he pitched well,” Pirates Manager Jim Leyland said. “He gave us a chance. That’s what you want your starter to do; pitch six or seven innings and give you a chance.”

The Cubs, who lost the conclusion of a suspended game and then lost the regularly scheduled game to Pittsburgh on Monday, beat the last-place Pirates for just the second time in 11 games this year.

Sanderson, 6-9, went seven innings, allowed six hits, walked none and struck out six in recording his first victory since July 18, breaking a personal three-game losing streak.

McWilliams, 2-8, gave up eight hits and three runs.

Barry Bonds led off the game with his 12th home run of the year.

But the Cubs tied it in the second, when Keith Moreland doubled and scored on Jody Davis’ single.

Durham hit his 12th homer of the season over 400 feet to right field on McWilliams’ first pitch of the fifth for a 2-1 Chicago lead.

Gary Matthews and Moreland opened the Cub sixth with singles. Davis bunted and McWilliams threw Matthews out at third.

But he walked Ron Cey to load the bases for Durham, whose single to left scored Moreland.

Reliever Mike Bielecki ended the rally, striking out Shawon Dunston and getting Sanderson to ground out.

Bonds’ homer, his second in two games, gave the Pirates 81 for the season, one more than they hit in all of 1985.

Oakland 3, Seattle 2--Mike Davis homered leading off the 10th inning to lift the A’s and reliever Jay Howell to victory over the Mariners in a game at Oakland that featured a triple play by the Seattle defense.

After the Mariners ended an Oakland threat in the ninth with their second triple play of the season, Davis hit the first pitch from reliever Pete Ladd over the right field fence for his 12th homer of the season.

Howell improved his record to 2-4 with one inning of relief. Ladd, who came on in the eighth, fell to 7-4.

The Mariners had tied the score 2-2 in the top of the ninth when Mickey Brantley hit his first major league home run. It also was Brantley’s second major league hit.

Sloppy play by Seattle allowed Oakland to score twice in the eighth to move ahead, 2-1. Davis was safe on a throwing error by first baseman Ken Phelps. Pinch hitter Donnie Hill, attempting to sacrifice, popped out to catcher Scott Bradley, who then threw wildly attempting to pick off Davis at first. Davis moved to second on the play.

Alfredo Griffin then singled to shortstop, with Davis holding at second. Matt Young came on in relief and Tony Phillips greeted him with a triple that scored Davis and Griffin.

The Mariners took a 1-0 lead in the first when Phil Bradley hit his ninth homer.

Seattle starter Steve Fireovid pitched three innings before having to leave because of a torn fingernail on his right index finger.

The Seattle triple play was set up when Ladd walked Bruce Bochte to start the ninth. Dave Kingman, attempting to lay down a bunt, lined the ball at third baseman Domingo Ramos, who misplayed the ball into a basehit.

Carney Lansford then lined the first pitch from Ladd at Ramos, who caught the ball, threw to second baseman Harold Reynolds to erase Bochte for the second out and then relayed to first to get Kingman.

It was the fifth triple play in the franchise’s history.

Kansas City 5, Boston 1--Frank White doubled home three runs, Darryl Motley doubled in two others and the defense turned five double plays to help the Royals to victory over the Red Sox in the first game of a doubleheader at Kansas City.

The start of the first game, which was being made up after an April 27 rainout, was delayed 1 hour, 12 minutes by rain.

Kansas City starter Danny Jackson, 7-8, allowed an unearned run in the first inning but only one Boston runner reached second on him the next five innings. Steve Farr pitched the final three innings for his eighth save. Kansas City’s five double plays were one short of the club record for a game.

Bruce Hurst’s record fell to 7-6 after giving up the hits to White and Motley.