Reds Are Not Impressed by Jones, Pound Padres, 8-6

Before Friday night’s game, Padre Manager Steve Boros said he didn’t think rookie pitcher Jimmy Jones would take the Cincinnati Reds for granted.

“I don’t think they’re going to roll over just because he pitched a one-hitter against the Astros,” Boros said of the Reds’ reaction to Jones’ masterful major league debut in the Astrodome last Sunday.

The Reds didn’t roll over. They came out swinging, scoring three runs in the first inning, knocking out Jones after two and going on to win, 8-6.

The Reds’ 14-hit attack was paced by Ron Oester, who had a single, double, home run, sacrifice fly, scored three runs and had two RBIs. Kurt Stillwell contributed three hits and the game-winning RBI, a single off losing pitcher Craig Lefferts in the seventh that put the Reds ahead, 6-5.

Cincinnati relief pitcher Rob Murphy picked up his fourth victory without a loss, and John Franco collected his 26th save.

In his debut against the Western Division champion Astros, Jones, the 22-year-old Dallas native, was brilliant. He faced only one batter over the minimum 27, striking out five and walking none.

But before most of the crowd of 11,839 had settled into their seats at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium Friday night, it was clear that whatever magic Jones had in Houston was lacking in his home debut.

Stillwell led off the game with a single, and Max Venable followed suit. After four pitches, Jones had already allowed more baserunners than he did in nine innings Sunday.

Next, he issued his first major league walk, to Dave Parker, to load the bases. Buddy Bell then singled up the middle to drive in two runs. Bo Diaz grounded to Randy Asadoor at third, who threw to Jerry Royster for the force at second. Royster’s relay to first was wild, however, and Parker scored the Reds’ third run with Diaz advancing to second.

Jones then settled down to strike out Eddie Milner and get Tony Perez on a fly to right to end the inning.

The Padres came back with five runs in the bottom of the first, chasing Red starter and former Padre Chris Welsh before he retired a batter.

Royster led off with a walk, and Tony Gwynn followed with a double down the right-field line. Parker had trouble picking up the ball, and Royster scored as Gwynn went to third. Kevin McReynolds then singled up the middle to score Gwynn. Carmelo Martinez doubled and McReynolds, who was running on the pitch, scored the third Padre run.

Carl Willis replaced Welsh and promptly walked Benito Santiago. After Tim Pyznarski struck out, Asadoor doubled to score Martinez and Santiago. Asadoor went to third when Ron Oester’s relay to the plate got past catcher Bo Diaz. Later, Asadoor was called out in a rundown when Gary Green appeared to have missed a suicide squeeze sign. Green then flied to right to end the inning.

The Reds closed to 5-4 in the second on a double by Oester and a single by Stillwell.

Jones left for a pitch-hitter in the bottom of the second, having given up four runs, three earned, on six hits and one walk. He struck out one.

With Dave LaPoint pitching in the fourth, the Reds tied the game, 5-5, on Oester’s eighth homer of the year to left.

The Padres threatened in the sixth when Asadoor led off with a single. He stole second as Green struck out and advanced to third when the throw from Diaz went into center field. Asadoor was left at third, however, as Steve Garvey and Royster flied out.

The Reds went ahead, 6-5, in the seventh off Lefferts, then added single runs in the eighth and ninth inningsto build an 8-5 lead.

The Padres scored a run off Franco in the ninth, but left the tying runs on base when Martinez grounded weakly to first to end the game.