National League Roundup : Dravecky Remains on a Giant Roll

Dave Dravecky has impressed Manager Roger Craig from the time he was acquired by the San Francisco Giants in a seven-player swap with San Diego July 4.

Now, he’s posting impressive numbers in the win column, too, as the Giants continue to dominate the National League West.

Although he needed help from Kelly Downs in the sixth inning Saturday at San Francisco, Dravecky won his fourth in a row when the Giants beat Philadelphia, 6-3.

An error by first baseman Will Clark set up two unearned runs in the fifth inning to end Dravecky’s scoreless string at 21 innings. When the Phillies scored another run on a pair of doubles in the sixth, Downs--taking the place of injured bullpen ace Scott Garrelts--closed down the Phillies.

Dravecky (9-9) struck out seven, while Downs, in earning his first save, struck out 6 in just 3 innings.

Shane Rawley (17-7) had won 9 of his last 10 decisions, but he couldn’t make it through the third inning. The shock of having Giant shortstop Jose Uribe hit a two-run homer, just his third home run of the season, apparently was too much. Robby Thompson, who had four hits, also homered and Rawley was finished when Bob Brenly and newly acquired Dave Henderson followed with doubles.

“Dave hasn’t pitched a bad game yet,”Craig said. “He knows as much about how to pitch as any pitcher I’ve seen in a long time. He has been a major factor in our surge to the top.”

When the 31-year-old left-hander joined the Giants, they were in third place in the West, 5 1/2 games behind Cincinnati. Now, the Giants are winging along, 4 1/2 games in front.

In addition to winning six of eight decisions since joining the Giants, Dravecky left two games with leads the bullpen couldn’t hold. On Aug. 26, he pitched 7 innings in a scoreless duel with Rawley that the Giants eventually won in the ninth on a home run by Brenly.

“The Giants are in a good groove,” said Phillies Manager Lee Elia. “When a guy like Uribe beats you with a home run, you know things are going right for the Giants.

“A different guy is doing it for them every day. They’re all complementary guys who are playing well together.”

Cincinnati 10, Chicago 5--The Reds appear to be starting their annual September surge, but just as in the last two seasons, it may be too late.

Although they were without their two stars, Eric Davis and Dave Parker, because of injuries, the Reds improved their record for the month to 4-0 in this game at Chicago.

However, they remained in third place, five games behind the Giants.

They didn’t need the two sluggers. Barry Larkin hit a three-run homer, while Bo Diaz and Paul O’Neill each hit one with a man on base. Dennis Rasmussen, although he gave up all the Cubs’ runs in 6 innings, evened his record at 1-1 since coming to the Reds in a trade with the New York Yankees.

The Reds were 20-12 in September and October last year and 22-12 during the same time in 1985. Both times the rallies were too late to win the division.

San Diego 4, St. Louis 1--As their lead in the East dropped to 2 1/2 games over the New York Mets, the Cardinals lost their cool while losing to the Padres in St. Louis.

First baseman Jack Clark, after striking out twice in clutch situations, was thrown out in the seventh inning for arguing a call at first base. The next inning, umpire Doug Harvey, who ejected Clark, tossed out Manager Whitey Herzog and third-base coach Nick Leyva.

To make matters worse, former Cardinal shortstop Garry Templeton beat them with a three-run home run in the second inning. Until the home run, he was 0 for 9 lifetime against Greg Mathews (9-9).

The Cardinals’ only run was scored by pitcher Mathews. Vince Coleman, despite getting four hits, didn’t score.

Montreal 4, Atlanta 1--Another fine effort by Dennis Martinez (8-3) at Atlanta enabled the Expos to climb within five games of first place in the East.

Martinez gave up one run and three hits in seven innings, retiring the first 12 batters he faced. Tim Burke finished up.

Mitch Webster doubled in two runs in the fourth.

Houston 5, Pittsburgh 1--Bob Knepper gave up six hits in eight innings at Houston, and Denny Walling and Kevin Bass slugged home runs to keep the Astros in second place in the West.

Knepper (8-14) struck out three and walked none to continue a late-season surge. He has won four of his last five decisions after a horrible start.