National League Roundup : Wind Lifts Cubs Past Astros, 22-7

It would be an understatement to say the wind was blowing out at Wrigley Field Wednesday. It was more like a hurricane.

This being the Year of the Rabbit in the baseball, it was carnage.

The Chicago Cubs hit two of the National League-record three grand slams and smashed the Houston Astros, 22-7, as the winds helped account for eight home runs and five doubles.

Although he pitched probably his worst game of the season and gave up a fourth-inning grand slam to Billy Hatcher, Rick Sutcliffe became the first pitcher in the league to win eight games.

In just five innings, Sutcliffe gave up 7 runs and 7 hits, but he departed holding a 16-7 lead. The Cubs hit three home runs in the first inning, including a grand slam by Brian Dayett, and hammered Bob Knepper (2-6) for nine runs before he managed to get three outs.

In 29 innings of his previous four starts, Sutcliffe gave up only six runs.

Keith Moreland, who had a solo home run in the first inning, hit a grand slam in the sixth to make it the second time in major league history that three home runs were hit with the bases loaded in one game. Last Aug. 6, Baltimore hit two grand slams and Texas one.

One of the eight home runs was by Andre Dawson, his fifth in the three-game series and his 19th of the season.

When Dawson made his offer to sign with the Cubs as a free agent, Sutcliffe, apparently carried away by the thought of having his bat in the lineup, offered to permit the Cubs to take $100,000 out of his paycheck to help pay Dawson’s salary. In the 12 games Sutcliffe has started, Dawson has hit 4 home runs and driven in 14 runs.

It was another atrocious outing for Knepper, who won 17 games last season to lead the Astros to the title in the West. He was given a 2-0 lead when Bill Doran hit a two-run home run in the first inning.

After giving up the nine runs in the first inning, Knepper’s earned-run average soared to 7.69.

“That’s a lot of offense, a lot of basehits,” Manager Gene Michael said after his Cubs pounded out 21 hits. “Our players needed it for their confidence.”

This was especially true for Moreland. He was barely batting .200 before hitting a home run and a single and driving in four runs Tuesday. With three more hits and seven more runs batted in, he has as many home runs (3) Tuesday and Wednesday as he hit in his first 50 games. He had 16 RBIs in 50 games and 11 in the last two.

In the last two games, the Cubs scored 35 runs and had 39 hits. It helps to have the wind blowing out.

San Francisco 4, Philadelphia 1--The Giants are hoping that Mike LaCoss can avoid his foldup of last season and help them remain in the race in the West.

The 31-year-old right-hander, given a last chance by Giant Manager Roger Craig last season, had a fine first half. At the All-Star break he was 9-3. After the break, he was 1-10, and the Giants dropped out of the race.

At San Francisco, with the help of five double plays, LaCoss improved his record to 6-2, going 6 innings before needing help from Jeff Robinson. Robinson stopped the Phillies the rest of the way to get his eighth save.

Second baseman Robby Thompson, who was in on three of the double plays, also hit his fifth home run in the fifth to complete the scoring.

Cincinnati 6, St. Louis 4--Nick Esasky hit a three-run home run, and rookie Pat Pacillo gained his first major league victory at Cincinnati.

Esasky has hit home runs in three consecutive games and has driven in 9 runs in the last 6 games.

Although Eric Davis extended his hitless string to 16 at-bats, he made another excellent catch to save Pacillo. With one on in the fourth, Jack Clark hit a deep drive to center. Davis leaped above the barrier to rob the Cardinal slugger of a two-run homer.

Davis, who robbed Clark of a home run Tuesday night, has prevented four home runs this season with leaping catches. The crowd gave him a standing ovation, while Clark glared at him.

Montreal 4, San Diego 3--Tim Raines and Andres Galarraga hit home runs in the seventh inning at Montreal to enable Neal Heaton to improve his record to 7-2.

The Expos have won 8 of their last 10 games.

Pittsburgh 4, Atlanta 1--Jim Morrison went 4 for 4, including three doubles, and drove in two runs to spark the Pirates at Atlanta.

Four Pirate pitchers held the Braves to five hits. Bob Kipper (4-5) went 5 innings for the victory.