National League Roundup : Mets Again Fail to Gain Ground as They Lose 3rd Straight to Cubs, 7-3

It was late July, the New York Mets had just completed a three-game sweep of the front-running Cardinals and were about to embark on the most favorable part of the schedule.

Baseball’s defending champions figured that by the middle of August they would either be leading the National League East or be about ready to take charge.

At the time, the Mets, who shortly before had been 10 1/2 games behind the Cardinals, were 5 1/2 games behind. Beginning Aug. 3, the Mets would play 16 of their next 20 games at home, while the Cardinals were playing 16 of 20 on the road.

More than halfway through the favorable schedule, the Mets have barely held their own. They still are 5 1/2 games out of first place and have fallen into third place.

It is the road games that have prevented the Mets from charging to the fore.

Even the presence of their “unbeatable” pitcher, Terry Leach, could not shake the Mets from their latest skid Saturday at Chicago.

The Cubs, pounding out 16 hits, including a home run and two doubles by Dave Martinez, handed the Mets a 7-3 lacing, their third loss in a row in a four-game series that concludes today.

Although a couple of the hits in the fatal fourth inning were tainted, the Cubs handed Leach his first defeat after 10 consecutive victories, the best start for a Mets’ pitcher.

Leach gave up 11 hits, including the three by Martinez, before departing with two out in the fifth inning, trailing, 4-2. A number of the outs Leach did get were well-hit line drives.

Leach, whose style is a cross between sidearm and submarine, seemed to fool only one Cub, Andre Dawson, Chicago’s best hitter. In three at-bats against Leach, Dawson stranded seven teammates.

Despite home runs by Keith Hernandez and Kevin McReynolds, Jamie Moyer (10-9) pitched a strong seven innings for the victory.

“For us to lose three games at this time really sets us back,” Mets’ Manager Davey Johnson said. “I’m frustrated. I feel we are just not getting that extra-base hit when we need it.

“It’s ironic. We should be hot and the club should be sky-high. We’re in a position where we can come back and shake up the whole world by winning it and really make them hate us.

“We’re not hitting and the pitching isn’t there. We gave them six outs in the fourth.”

The Mets led, 2-1, going into the fourth but, with one out, shortstop Luis Quinones doubled and scored when Mets’ shortstop Rafael Santana mistimed his leap on Jody Davis’ line drive, which went for a single. Moyer hit a fly to short center, but Mookie Wilson lost it in the sun, then fell down and it went for a hit. Martinez ripped a double down the right-field line to give the Cubs the lead for good.

Philadelphia 5, St. Louis 2--Although he will probably have to serve a 10-day suspension, it may have been a blessing in disguise when Kevin Gross was caught with sandpaper in his glove last Monday against Chicago.

At that time, Gross had made seven consecutive starts without a victory and was ejected from that game in the fifth inning.

The next day, in relief, Gross won for the first time since June 29.

In this game at St. Louis, Gross held the slumping Cardinals to two runs and eight hits in 7 innings for his first win as a starter in his last nine starts. Gross is allowed to pitch until his hearing, Aug. 27.

Mike Schmidt hit two home runs. His second one hit the top of the center-field wall and went over to break a 2-2 tie. It was Schmidt’s 25th of the season and the 519th of his career. He needs two more home runs to tie Ted Williams and Willie McCovey for 11th place on the all-time list.

Both homers were off Bob Forsch (10-4), who has served up 11 home run balls to Schmidt over the years.

When the Cardinals threatened in the eighth, Steve Bedrosian came to the rescue and earned his major league-leading 32nd save.

Montreal 6, Pittsburgh 3--The Expos, using late-inning lightning, have slipped into second place in the East, five games behind the Cardinals.

With the Pirates holding a 3-2 lead at Montreal, the Expos loaded the bases with one out in the ninth and Vance Law then hit a grand slam to ruin a sharp performance by Brian Fisher.

Fisher (7-8) was working on a four-hitter when he walked Casey Candaele to open the ninth. After a force out, Tim Wallach and Tom Foley singled to set the stage for Law, who hit a 2-1 pitch into the left-field seats for his 11th home run of the season.

Although he didn’t get the victory, Dennis Martinez pitched another strong game for the Expos. He gave up six hits and three runs, one unearned, in eight innings.

The Pirates took the 3-2 lead in the eighth when Andy Van Slyke doubled and scored on a two-out single by R. J. Reynolds.

Houston 8, Atlanta 0--Danny Darwin pitched a seven-hitter at Houston and Glenn Davis hit a three-run home run as the Astros moved to within three games of first place in the West.

Kevin Bass singled in two runs for the Astros in the first and it was all Darwin (8-7) needed for his first National League shutout.