National League Roundup : Murphy Spoils Craig’s Strategic Moves With Homer in Braves’ 6-1 Win

Roger Craig, manager of the San Francisco Giants, went to great lengths Wednesday trying to stop Dale Murphy of the Atlanta Braves.

In the seventh inning with the Braves leading, 2-1, Craig brought in right-hander Randy Bockus and sent left-hander Keith Comstock to right field so he could later return to the mound.

But Murphy, a right-hand hitter, foiled Craig’s maneuver by hitting a Bockus pitch over the wall in right, and the Braves went on to a 6-1 victory at Atlanta.

Craig, whose team has lost five straight to fall into third place in the West, defended his strategy.

“I wouldn’t have changed pitchers just for a right-handed batter, but Murphy is different,” he said. “I made all the right moves, they just didn’t work out . . . “

Rick Mahler (4-7) allowed only one hit in six innings in getting the victory. He retired the first 14 batters he faced before Bob Brenly hit his third home run of the year in the fifth inning.

Cincinnati 9, Houston 1--Tracy Jones drove in four runs with a three-run home run and a single to lead the Reds at Houston.

The victory increased the Reds’ lead over the Astros in the West to 1 1/2 games.

Ron Robinson (2-2), making his first start since Oct. 5, 1985, allowed one run on six hits in six innings.

Nolan Ryan (4-6) gave up three runs on seven hits in five innings.

Jones’ home run capped a four-run Cincinnati sixth.

Chicago 5, Philadelphia 3--Keith Moreland drove in three runs, and Jamie Moyer and Lee Smith combined on a six-hitter to lead the Cubs at Chicago.

Moreland drove in three runs with a two-run single and a sacrifice fly, and Andre Dawson snapped out of a 5-for-22 slump with three singles.

Moyer (7-4) struck out seven and walked none in eight innings. Smith pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his 17th save, the most in the league.

Pittsburgh 4, St. Louis 1--Rick Reuschel, 38, threw an eight-hitter at St. Louis and came within two outs of becoming the first pitcher to shut out the Cardinals this year.

Reuschel (5-3), struck out one and walked one in winning at Busch Stadium for the first time since 1980. He lost his chance for a shutout in the ninth when Willie McGee tripled and scored on a ground out.

Mike LaValliere, a former Cardinal, drove in two runs for the Pirates.

Montreal 9, New York 1--Mike Fitzgerald, who was batting .209 going into the game, hit his first career grand slam to lead the Expos over the Mets and Sid Fernandez at Montreal.

Fernandez (8-3), who had won five straight, lasted only four innings and gave up all nine Montreal runs, seven of them earned. Fitzgerald’s grand slam was the first Fernandez has allowed in the major leagues.

Bryn Smith (5-2) went the distance for the first time since last Aug. 30 in earning the win.