Strawberry Ends Slump and Mets Set Team Record in 23-10 Rout of Cubs

There isn’t a better place to end a hitting slump than Wrigley Field in Chicago, especially when the wind is blowing out.

Darryl Strawberry, who went into Sunday’s game against the Chicago Cubs with only 1 hit in his last 14 at-bats, came blasting out of the slump and helped the New York Mets emerge from theirs, too.

Strawberry went 4 for 5 and drove in 5 runs and the Mets, who had lost three in a row to the Cubs, set a club scoring record in a 23-10 victory.

All four of Strawberry’s hits were for extra bases--two doubles, a triple and his 29th home run. In all, there were 33 hits, 7 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs and 13 walks in the 3 1/2-hour game.

The 23 runs were as many as the Mets had scored in their previous seven games.

Ron Darling (10-7) allowed a grand slam to Jody Davis, but won his sixth in a row by lasting six innings.

The Cubs, desperately in need of a starting pitcher when Mike Mason was placed on the disabled list, started Greg Maddux, who was just called up from triple-A Iowa. Maddux lasted 3 innings, giving up 7 runs, 6 hits and 5 walks. Drew Hall, another recent addition from Iowa, gave up 10 runs and 10 hits in 1 innings.