National League Roundup : Reds Are Done In by Pirates’ Mike Dunne, 1-0

Mike Dunne pitched a two-hitter Tuesday night at Pittsburgh as the Pirates continued to spoil the division title hopes of the Cincinnati Reds.

Dunne, a 24-year-old right-hander, did not permit a Red to reach third and made a first-inning run stand up for a 1-0 victory, the Reds’ fifth loss in a row.

It was the fourth time in five games that the Pirates have beaten the Reds. Last Tuesday, the Reds were tied with the San Francisco Giants for first place in the West. The loss to Dunne, along with another win by the Giants, dropped the Reds to four games back.

Manager Pete Rose may have only one move left. He has chastised his players in a clubhouse meeting, he has shuffled his pitching and he has changed his lineup. None of those things have ended the slump.

What’s next? Activating player Pete Rose. Maybe he can supply some punch.

The only hits the Reds managed against Dunne (8-5) was a double by Dave Parker to open the second inning and a single by Buddy Bell in the fourth. Parker never even reached third. The youngster finished with a flourish, retiring the last 10 batters.

Andy Van Slyke, sent to the Pirates, along with Dunne and Mike LaValliere, in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals for Tony Pena, singled with one out in the first, stole second and scored on Johnny Ray’s line single to right. The run marred a strong performance by Ted Power (10-8) He went into the game with a 6-0 lifetime record against the Pirates.

Pirate General Manager Syd Thrift has come in for some heavy criticism for some of the deals he’s made, especially the ones in which he was just getting rid of high salaries.

But, when he traded talented, high-priced catcher Pena, he came up with value received. Van Slyke has had a big year and Dunne, one of the many members of the 1984 U.S. Olympic team to make it in the majors, has pitched brilliantly.

Thrift insisted on Dunne, a 6-foot 4-inch right-hander, in the Pena deal. Whitey Herzog, Cardinal manager, balked at including Dunne.

“Mike is going to be an outstanding major league pitcher,” Thrift said. “We have the luxury of bringing him along slowly. We feel he has made magnificent progress.”

According to Rose, Power pitched as well as any Reds’ pitcher has all year. It was just that Dunne, who is 5-1 with a 1.83 earned-run average in his last nine starts, pitched better.

“That was a tremendous performance,” Pirate Manager Jim Leyland said. “And what impressed me the most was the way he closed them out in the ninth. Some rookies will roll along for eight innings, then get cautious in the ninth, but he went right after them.”

San Francisco 3, Philadelphia 2--Chris Speier, at 37, has developed into one of the game’s most valuable utility men. The one-time shortstop can fill in at any infield spot and has been a vital cog in the Giants’ drive to the top of the West.

Speier, filling in at third base this week, hit his 10th home run in the eighth inning at Philadelphia to break a 2-2 tie and enable the Giants to increase their lead over the Houston Astros to 1 1/2 games.

Speier’s drive off Kevin Gross (11-8) hit the foul pole in left and prompted raves from Giant Manager Roger Craig.

“Chris Speier is the most valuable player on this ballclub,” Craig said. “I mean it. Where would we be without Chris Speier?”

Speier, who hit a two-run homer in the Giants’ 6-1 win Monday night, laughed when informed of Craig’s comment.

“That must be a difficult thing for him to give me such a compliment,” he said. “I’m just thankful to be part of the 24-man squad.”

St. Louis 7, Houston 1--The Cardinals turned loose their speed at St. Louis to end the Astros’ hex over them, which had reached five in a row.

Vince Coleman and Lance Johnson each legged out triples in a two-run second inning that put the Cardinals ahead to stay. Coleman later beat out two bunts for hits.

Greg Mathews (9-8) worked out of several early jams to get the victory that put the Cardinals 4 1/2 games in front in the East.

Jack Clark drove in his 100th run with a double into the left-field corner in the fifth.

San Diego 5, Montreal 1--Benito Santiago capped a five-run third inning at San Diego with a three-run home run to provide Mark Grant with the cushion for his fourth win in 11 decisions.

Neal Heaton (12-6) was the loser as the Expos dropped 5 1/2 games behind in the East.