National League Roundup : Reuschel Gives Giants Quick Payoff

Despite the premature case of pennant fever gripping San Francisco these days, Giant Manager Roger Craig didn’t want newly acquired Rick Reuschel to get too worked up about his first assignment Monday night at Philadelphia.

At the same time, Craig conveyed his own expectations to the 38-year-old right-hander.

“I know you’ve read a lot in the media that you’re going to win the pennant for us,” Craig said he told Reuschel before San Francisco’s 6-1 win over the Phillies. “But we’re going to win it anyway.

“You don’t have to win every game. But you better win tonight.”

Reuschel complied by giving up just five hits in seven innings in his first appearance in a Giants’ uniform since being traded by Pittsburgh last Friday. The win, the Giants’ 13th in the last 18 games, kept San Francisco a half-game ahead of the Houston Astros in the National League West, with the Cincinnati Reds falling three games behind.

The trade came as a surprise to at least one national publication, which last week ran a cover story proclaiming how happy Reuschel was to be in Pittsburgh. Reuschel, however, was surprised only by where he wound up.

“All the talk I heard was that I was going to the Reds,” Reuschel said. “I hadn’t heard the Giants’ name mentioned.

” . . . I’m excited because I have a chance to help out down the stretch. I’m happy to get off to a good start here.”

Reuschel (9-6) hadn’t won in six starts since beating the Giants July 22. But Monday, he struck out a season-high eight batters and walked none in lowering his earned-run average to 2.69, second-best among National League starters.

“My arm felt fine, but my body was tired,” said Reuschel, who hadn’t pitched in eight days.

Chris Speier hit a two-run home run, and Mike Aldrete had 3 of the Giants’ 12 hits off Bruce Ruffin (10-10) and three relievers.

Pittsburgh 5, Cincinnati 4--The Reds fell to .500 (63-63) for the first time this season after losing their fourth straight game and first in 10 games against the Pirates in Three Rivers Stadium, dating back to Aug. 22, 1985.

Bobby Bonilla hit a three-run home run, and Doug Drabek (6-10) checked Cincinnati on seven hits in seven innings, offsetting a 4-for-4 performance by Red first baseman Nick Esasky and the 20th home run by outfielder Kal Daniels.

The Reds scored twice in the ninth on a two-run pinch-hit double by Paul O’Neill, but with the potential tying run on second, Pirate reliever Jim Gott struck out Daniels to end the game.

The Pirates scored the deciding runs off Tom Browning (5-11) in the fifth on a run-scoring double by Barry Bonds and a single by Al Pedrique. Pedrique is hitting .374 (40 for 107) since becoming the Pirates’ starting shortstop last month.

Houston 5, St. Louis 2--Bob Knepper pitched his first complete game of the season, and Billy Hatcher hit a two-run homer and stole three bases for the Astros, who have won 10 of their last 11 games, including a three-game sweep of the Cardinals last week at Houston.

Knepper (7-13) gave up seven hits, walked two and struck out four in beating the Eastern Division leaders for the second time in two starts, both against Joe Magrane (6-6). The Cardinals lead the Mets by 3 1/2 games.

Knepper, who was 3-12 with a 6.35 ERA at one point, is 4-1 with a 3.29 ERA in his last six starts.