National League Roundup : Knepper Notches His Fifth Shutout for Astros

Bob Knepper pitched a five-hitter Friday night at Atlanta, and Denny Walling hit a home run and drove in two runs as the Houston Astros continued their domination of the West with a 3-0 victory over the Braves.

It was Knepper’s 15th victory and his major league-leading fifth shutout this season. He won 15 games each of the two previous seasons, and his high was 17 with San Francisco in 1978.

In other seasons, Knepper has been brilliant early but has usually tailed off. It appeared that this was another of those years when he won his 10th game June 10, then went almost six weeks before winning another.

Starting with a shutout over the New York Mets July 18, however, Knepper has returned to top form. He is 5-1 in his last six decisions.

Knepper wasn’t especially impressed with his performance Friday night. “I knew when I was warming up that I wasn’t going to be overpowering,” he said, “so I basically tried to throw sinkerballs. I had good control and tried to keep them off balance.”

Knepper struck out five and got 11 outs on ground balls. It was his eighth complete game.

He had a three-hitter until the ninth inning, when the Braves’ Bob Horner singled and Bruce Benedict doubled with two out. But Ted Simmons grounded out to end the game.

The Astros broke a scoreless tie in the fourth. Walling, who had three hits, led off with his 10th home run of the season, a drive over the right-field fence. Glenn Davis singled, went to third on second baseman Glenn Hubbard’s error and scored on Craig Reynolds’ single.

St. Louis 4, New York 2--John Morris, inserted into the Cardinal outfield for defense in the seventh inning at New York, exceeded expectations.

He made a spectacular catch in right field to rob Howard Johnson of an extra-base hit in the seventh, but it was his offense that decided the game.

Morris singled off Jesse Orosco with the bases loaded in the 10th to drive in two runs. A third run scored when the throw by right fielder Darryl Strawberry skipped past catcher Gary Carter.

During spring training, the Cardinals dubbed Morris, “the Natural.” But until Willie McGee was injured last month, Morris had spent the season in the minors. He has played well since coming up.

“It was a pretty good nickname,” Manager Whitey Herzog said. “I mean, he looks like the Natural. And so far, he’s played about like him.”

The Mets threatened in the bottom of the inning. Rafael Santana and Mookie Wilson doubled for one run off Todd Worrell. But shortstop Ozzie Smith made a diving stop of Len Dykstra’s smash and nailed Wilson trying to go to third. Worrell staggered to his 26th save.

Montreal 5-5, Chicago 2-1--Tim Burke pitched five scoreless innings in his first major league start as the Expos swept a doubleheader at Montreal.

In the first game, Tim Wallach hit a two-run homer, and Vance Law had three hits.

Burke (8-4) has appeared in 144 games as a relief pitcher. In the second game Friday night, he gave up seven hits but struck out five and did not walk a batter. Bob McClure went the final four innings.

Rookie Luis Rivera doubled home three runs in the first inning to help build a 5-0 lead for Burke.

Cincinnati 7-1, San Diego 2-7--After Buddy Bell hit two two-run homers in the first game of the doubleheader at Cincinnati, the Padres did some long-ball hitting in the second game.

The Padres got home runs by Steve Garvey, Bip Roberts and Jerry Royster--and a four-hitter from pitcher Eric Show--to gain a split. Garvey’s home run was his 17th, matching his 1985 total.

The Reds’ Mario Soto (5-10) pitched six innings to win the opener. It was only his second win since he came off the disabled list July 17.

Pittsburgh 6-2, Philadelphia 5-3--After losing his first five decisions, Mike Maddux won his first major league game and gave the Phillies a split at Philadelphia.

Maddux yielded six hits in 7 innings, and Steve Bedrosian came in to get the last four outs for his 15th save.

In the first inning of the nightcap, Von Hayes singled in the Phillies’ first run for his 25th run batted in over the last 27 games.

In the opener, Sid Bream’s sacrifice fly with one out in the top of the ninth scored Barry Bonds with the winning Pirate run.