National League Roundup : Davis, Daniels Homer as Reds Win Again, 6-3

Dave Parker looks at his young teammates and marvels at the talent. Finding enough ways to get them all a chance to play the veteran right fielder figures is a great problem for the Cincinnati Reds to have.

“We’ve got guys sitting on the bench,” he told the Associated Press, “who could be starting somewhere else. But hopefully we’ll keep them here and win the West.”

Eric Davis and Kal Daniels are two reasons why the Reds are so optimistic.

Davis hit a three-run home and Daniels hit a tie-breaking home run in the sixth Tuesday night at Atlanta to give the sizzling Reds a 6-3 victory over the Braves, their sixth win in seven games.

Only 24, Davis hit 27 home runs last season, his first full one with the Reds. He already has three this season. He had a single to go with the home run and raised his average to .481.

Daniels, a 23-year-old left-handed swinger, spent most of last season with the Reds. Even now, he hasn’t won the left field job outright. He’s getting closer.

At the moment, he splits duties with Tracy Jones, who had three hits in Monday’s win.

“We lost the pennant last year because we got off to a poor start,” Parker said. “With so many guys ready and able to play, we can avoid the poor start this year.”

Manager Pete Rose is finding that platooning is doing the job. In addition to left field, he platoons at first with Dave Concepcion and Terry Francona.

“It doesn’t matter to me who plays, as long as we win,” Rose said. “Everyone is starting to accept his role. I’m not playing favorites. I’m playing to win ballgames. Some guys may not like it, but that’s OK as long as they perform on the field.”

Daniels’ second home run of the season gave former Dodger Ted Power his first victory. In his first start last week, flu forced Power to depart early. In this one he went six innings, giving up five hits and all three runs.

Montreal 9, St. Louis 4--Jeff Reed managed to spoil the Cardinals’ home opener and give the Expos their first victory after five defeats.

Reed, one of four players obtained from Minnesota in the trade that sent bullpen ace Jeff Reardon to the Twins, drove in four runs with a bases-loaded double and a single.

The rookie catcher broke the game open and sent Greg Mathews down to defeat when he cleared the bases with his double in the first inning.

Cardinal Manager Whitey Herzog said he didn’t blame the fans for leaving early. “We were behind, 9-0,” he said, “and it was raining. I was ready to leave, too.”

New York 7, Philadelphia 5--Mookie Wilson singled home Len Dykstra with the winning run in the ninth inning at Philadelphia. Loser Steve Bedrosian put himself in trouble when he walked Dykstra and the latter stole second.

Outfielder Ron Roenicke fumbled Wilson’s hit for a two-base error and a grounder scored the other run in the ninth.

Ron Darling, who worked out of a jam in the eighth with the score tied, 5-5, runners on first and third and none out, was the winner.

Darling retired Roenicke and Greg Gross on short flies and got pinch-hitter Luis Aguayo on a routine fly.

“I just knew I had to reach back and get something extra,” Darling said. “And I did.”

San Francisco 3, San Diego 2--As long as catcher Bob Melvin gets to bat against the Padres, he’ll do rather well.

In this game at San Diego, he hit his fourth home run of the season to help the Giants improve their record to 7-2. All of his homers have been against the Padres, who are 1-7, their worst start since 1974.

The Giants are off to their best start since 1979. That year they were also 7-2.

Reliever Mark Grant pitched 1 innings for the victory and Scott Garrelts got the save. Starter Mark Davis couldn’t make it through the fifth, even though the Giants gave him a 3-0 lead.