National League Roundup : Mets Win 82nd Game, Equaling Total of ’73 Championship Team

Bob Ojeda gave up five hits in eight innings Saturday at San Francisco as the New York Mets beat the slumping Giants, 3-2, for their sixth victory in a row.

Ojeda (14-4) became the winningest pitcher on a staff that already has five pitchers in double figures, and it was the 82nd victory for the runaway leaders of the East. It matches the Mets’ victory total for the entire 1973 season, the last time they won a division title.

With just 39 games remaining, the Mets are 20 games in front of second-place Philadelphia. For a long time the only question about the Mets has been not whether they would win the division, but rather how close they would come to the best regular-season record.

It doesn’t seem likely that the Mets will approach the all-time mark of 116 set by the Chicago Cubs in 1906 in just 152 games. And to equal the modern record of 111 by Cleveland in 1954, they would have to finish 29-10.

However, merely by maintaining their present pace, they will have the best record in more than a decade. In 1975, Cincinnati won 108, best in the National League since the 162-game schedule began in 1962. In 1969, Baltimore won 109 in the American League.

However, most runaway winners have found it difficult to maintain a hot pace all season. For instance, in 1984 when Detroit was 35-5 in a record-breaking start, the Tigers settled for 104 victories.

On the other hand, the Mets are a young team with something to prove. Even the loss of their RBI and home run leader, Gary Carter,with a sprained thumb, hasn’t slowed the pace. They are 6-1 since the veteran catcher was put on the disabled list.

Another factor is the friendly battle among the pitchers. Ojeda, acquired from the Boston Red Sox in the offseason, is the leader, but Dwight Gooden, returning to his best form, and Sid Fernandez each have 13 victories, and reliever Roger McDowell and Ron Darling each have 12.

McDowell also has 16 saves. He pitched a hitless ninth to earn his latest save.

Keith Hernandez had the big hit for the Mets, who scored all their runs off rookie Kelly Downs (0-4) in the fifth. A wild pitch with the bases loaded scored the first run and Hernandez singled in the final two to give him his ninth game-winning hit this season.

“I think everyone realized that with the loss of Gary we had to pull together,” Hernandez said. “It brought our intensity up and we are playing well against good teams.”

Ojeda, who never won more than 12 games in five seasons with the Red Sox, struck out nine and walked only three.

San Diego 4, Philadelphia 3--When the Padres loaded the bases with nobody out in the 12th inning at San Diego, the Phillies brought in a fifth infielder. It worked for a force at the plate on Kevin McReynolds’ grounder. But pinch-hitter Bruce Bochy found a hole in the defense, and singled to give the Padres the victory. Bochy is 6 for 12.

Steve Garvey had three hits, including his 19th homer, as the Padres built a 3-0 lead. The Phillies tied it with three in the ninth, two coming on Juan Samuel’s 12th home run.

Cincinnati 7, Chicago 3--Nick Esasky isn’t just feasting on the Cubs. His hot bat is keeping Chicago fans from getting a chance to see Pete Rose for possibly the last time as a player.

Esasky, who had three hits and drove in both Cincinnati runs in a 3-2 loss Friday, drove in three more in this one with a double and a sacrifice fly. With Esasky playing first, Manager Rose sits.

St. Louis 7, Houston 1--It figured the Astros would fatten their lead in the West. Mike Scott, 7-0 on the road, was pitching against Danny Cox, who was 2-5 at home.

Scott (13-9) pitched another fine game, but his road winning streak came to an end. He gave up only three hits in seven innings, but each of them, triples by Terry Pendleton and Curt Ford and an infield hit by Tom Herr, produced a run. Two of his four walks came around to score.

On the other hand, Cox (8-10) pitched a six-hitter for his fourth complete game.

Despite the loss, Houston leads the West by seven games.

Pittsburgh 4, Atlanta 3--The Pirates celebrated the news that Manager Jim Leyland would be back next season by beating the Braves for the second time in a row at Pittsburgh.

Tony Pena homered and Barry Bonds hit a two-run triple for the Pirates. Dale Murphy hit his 24th homer for the Braves.