National League Roundup : A Rookie Gives Herzog His 1,000th Victory as Cardinals Beat Mets, 3-2

Joe Magrane will probably never forget his major league pitching debut. Not only did the 6-foot 5-inch left-hander win the game, his performance enabled his manager to gain victory No. 1,000.

Magrane, a former University of Arizona star, held the Mets to 5 hits in 6 innings Saturday at New York as the St. Louis Cardinals won, 3-2, and Whitey Herzog became the 37th major league manager to win 1,000 games.

The injury-plagued Cardinals moved back into a tie with the Mets for first place in the East, largely because Mookie Wilson misjudged pinch-hitter Curt Ford’s drive to deep center field in the seventh inning.

The Mets were leading, 2-1, but the Cardinals had two runners on and one out. Although Wilson got his glove on the ball, it bounced away, and one run scored. Vince Coleman followed with a single to drive in the winning run.

“I’m the 37th manager to win 1,000 games,” Herzog said as he popped the cork on a champagne bottle. “That’s great, because Casey Stengel wore No. 37. But really, it doesn’t mean that much. All it means is that the Mets won’t sweep.”

The Cardinals brought up Magrane, a No. 1 draft pick in June 1985, from Louisville of the American Assn. Friday after putting injured second baseman Tommy Herr on the disabled list.

The Cardinals had originally planned to wait until later in the summer to bring up Magrane, 22, but with all the injuries, they speeded up Magrane’s advancement.

He struck out 7 and walked only 1, and Herzog quickly designated him as his No. 5 starter.

“Magrane pitched an outstanding game, especially for a major league debut,” he said. “It doesn’t come as a surprise. He pitched very well in spring training. And everybody in baseball, not just our people, know all about him. He was the best pitcher in all of the minors last year.”

Magrane said all he wants is a chance to pitch. “Facing the Mets twice in the spring was a big boost,” he said. “I got pumped up in the bullpen when I heard the crowd, so I was ready.”

Bill Dawley pitched a hitless inning, and Rick Horton pitched two shutout innings for his fourth save.

Philadelphia 3, Pittsburgh 2--Don Carman pitched seven strong innings at Philadelphia to become the first Phillie starter to win a game this season.

Although he gave up a run in the ninth, Kent Tekulve picked up his second save. The Phils scored all their runs in the first.

Atlanta 5, San Francisco 3--Gerald Perry hit a three-run home run off Scott Garrelts with one out in the ninth inning at Atlanta to give the Braves the victory.

Chicago 9, Montreal 4--Jody Davis drove in three runs at Montreal, two of them with a single in the four-run sixth that put the Cubs in command.