National League Roundup : Raines Delivers Game-Winning Hit for Expos

After finishing 29 1/2 games behind the World Series champion New York Mets last season, the Montreal Expos allowed Tim Raines and Andre Dawson, their two best players, to become free agents. They also traded away bullpen ace Jeff Reardon, who had a hand in 42 of their 78 victories.

Dawson made a deal with the Chicago Cubs they couldn’t refuse, but all the other teams passed on Raines, and a month into the season, he signed again with the Expos.

Because of Raines, the Expos haven’t missed Dawson and Reardon. In fact, they are one of the surprise teams of the season.

The Expos recorded their fifth straight victory as Raines, the star of the All-Star game, beat out an infield hit with two out in the eighth inning Friday night at Montreal for a 5-4 win over Atlanta. The hit came with the bases loaded.

“It wasn’t one of the hardest balls I’ve hit all season,” Raines said, “but I’ll take it. I was looking fastball and he threw a changeup. I hit it off the end of the bat.”

Earlier, Raines, who had no spring training and missed the first 23 games of the season, doubled and scored a run.

His 2-for-3 night, which included an intentional walk in the two-run seventh inning, raised his average to .357. When he gets enough at-bats to qualify, he may challenge Tony Gwynn of San Diego for the batting title.

In addition, he has given the Expos, who opened the season by losing their first five games, a big lift. Since the poor start, the Expos are 49-34.

“I don’t know if the Cardinals, with their big lead, can be caught, but we aren’t about to give up,” Raines said. “We have a good young team and I’m happy to be a part of it.

“I kept myself in good shape when I wasn’t allowed to play, but I really feel that I am in a groove.”

One of the young players Raines referred to is pitcher Bob Sebra. Although he didn’t get the victory, the right-hander from the University of Nebraska pitched another strong game.

He gave up only three hits in seven innings, but with the score tied, the Expos batted for him.

The Expo bullpen couldn’t hold the lead, and Raines had to pull it out with his seventh game-winning hit.

Cincinnati 5, New York 2--Manager Davey Johnson of the Mets has lost all faith in his bullpen. Because of this, Ron Darling lost another game at New York.

Darling (4-7), who had not gone the distance in his 20 previous starts, held a 2-1 lead over the Reds going into the ninth inning.

Last year, Johnson would have summoned either Roger McDowell or Jesse Orosco--or both--and probably would have won the game.

But Darling, who went into the ninth with a three-hitter, gave up a single to Buddy Bell, then struck out ailing Eric Davis before Dave Parker also singled.

Tracy Jones then bounced a single off third baseman Howard Johnson’s glove as the Reds tied the game. With two out, Nick Esasky hit a 3-and-2 pitch over the left-field fence for his 12th home run.

The blast ended the Reds’ four-game losing streak and marked the 11th time this season that they have won in their final at-bat.

Philadelphia 2, Houston 1--Mike Scott is still pitching well, but not quite well enough to win for the Astros.

In this game at Houston, he gave up two runs in the first inning and that was it as his record fell to 10-6.

Shane Rawley (11-5) gave up eight hits and was just one out short of a complete game when Steve Bedrosian was summoned to get the last out for his 25th save.

Chicago 5, San Francisco 1--The Cubs’ Rick Sutcliffe held the Giants hitless through five innings at San Francisco and left the game after having allowed 6 hits over 7 for his 13th victory of the season.

Sutcliffe (13-4) leads the National League in victories and has won 10 of his last 12 decisions. He struck out 3 and walked 4.

St. Louis 4, San Diego 3--Willie McGee hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning at San Diego, and it proved to be just enough to give the Cardinals the victory.