National League Roundup : Cardinals Defeat Mets, 4-2, to Complete Sweep

One of the major reasons for the St. Louis Cardinals’ failure to repeat as National League champions last year was their inability to hit home runs.

In 1986, the Cardinals managed only 58 homers. They were the only major league team that didn’t hit at least 110. With that in mind, it’s not surprising the Cardinals scored fewer runs than any team in baseball.

But the Cardinals don’t appear to be powerless this year.

In a dramatic finish Saturday night, Tommy Herr hit a grand slam to beat the world champion New York Mets, 12-8.

The Cardinals came right back with the long ball Sunday to complete a three-game sweep of the Mets with a 4-2 victory at St. Louis. Willie McGee hit a two-run home run and Tom Pagnozzi, celebrating his first major-league start, hit a solo homer.

The home run barrage has helped boost the Cardinals into first place in the East. They have 11 homers in 11 games.

Just how long St. Louis stays on top may have nothing to do with home runs. The Cardinals may run out of players. They’ve been hit by injuries to their best pitcher, John Tudor, and one of baseball’s best catchers, Tony Pena.

Pena will be out for two months, Tudor for three.

Pagnozzi was brought up early last week to replace Pena. He drove in a run in the 10th inning Saturday with his first major league hit, a single, that preceded Herr’s grand slam.

Pagnozzi’s home run off Sid Fernandez gave Greg Mathews, who had been shelled in his first two starts, a 4-0 lead in the fourth. Mathews had a five-hit shutout until the seventh when he gave up a two-run double to Keith Hernandez with two out.

Rick Horton retired Darryl Strawberry to end the rally and retired the next six Mets to earn his third save. Strawberry’s 10-game hitting streak was ended.

Only twice since 1970 have the Cardinals hit 100 home runs in a season. Last year’s home run leader, Andy Van Slyke, who hit 13, went to Pittsburgh in the Pena deal.

“This is the kind of Cardinal team I like,” said Jack Clark, who has hit two homers. “It’s nice to have the home run weapon. It makes us that much tougher to beat.”

The Cardinals are no threat for the home run title, partly because Busch Stadium is the toughest home run park in the league.

Montreal 3, Chicago 1-- The first beanball episode of the new season occurred Sunday at Chicago.

Andy McGaffigan, in the midst of three perfect innings while saving a victory for Lary Sorensen, threw two pitches high and inside to Shawon Dunston in the seventh inning and the Cub shortstop charged the mound.

McGaffigan ducked a punch and both benches emptied. As is usual in baseball brawls, no one was seriously hurt.

“I just had to protect myself,” Dunston said. “He threw too high. That’s his job, coming inside, but he came in too high. He tried to hurt me.”

McGaffigan denied he was throwing at Dunston and umpire Doug Harvey didn’t eject either player.

Vance Law’s two-run single highlighted a three-run first inning that enabled Sorensen to beat his former teammates.

San Francisco 4, Atlanta 3--The Giants’ ability to win close games has put them back on top in the West.

When second baseman Glenn Hubbard misplayed Matt Williams’ grounder with two out in the ninth inning, Chris Brown scored the winning run that gave the Giants an 8-0 record in one-run games.

Jeff Robinson (2-0) worked 2 scoreless innings for the win.

Houston 7-2, Cincinnati 3-6--The Astros and Reds took turns playing long ball at Cincinnati.

In the opener, Bill Doran had his first two-homer game and Phil Garner also hit a two-run home run to help Cy Young winner Mike Scott improve his record to 3-0.

Tracy Jones and Kal Daniels each homered and doubled in the nightcap in support of former Dodger Ted Power, who went 6 innings to improve his record to 2-0.

Pittsburgh 5, Philadelphia 2--Another former Dodger, Sid Bream, hooked a line drive around the right-field foul pole at Pittsburgh to break a 2-2 tie in the seventh. Doug Drabek, a former Yankee, went seven innings for his first National League victory.