National League Roundup : Perez’s Comeback Continues

Even Pascual Perez never thought he would make it back after his career hit bottom in April of last year.

But, here he is playing a major role in the Montreal Expos’ desperate drive to reach the top of the National League East.

Perez, in his fourth start since being brought up from the minors, pitched well into the seventh inning Monday at Montreal in the Expos’ 9-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Before allowing a home run to Tony Pena with one out in the seventh, Perez (2-0) held the leaders of the East to six hits while striking out six. The victory moved the Expos to within four games of the Cardinals.

Perez, a controversial, colorful right-hander, began getting in trouble after posting a 15-8 record in 1983 for the Atlanta Braves. Before the 1984 season, he was jailed in his native Dominican Republic for cocaine possession. He was late in joining the Braves, although he did go on to compile a 14-8 record.

The next year was a disaster. He was 1-13 with a 6.14 earned-run average. Soon he was out of baseball.

In February, the Expos took a chance on him and signed him to a minor league contract.

After winning his last two starts for Triple-A Indianapolis, the Expos brought him up Aug. 18.

Although he did not win his first two starts for Montreal, Perez pitched well and the Expos won both. Overall, they are 4-0 in games he has started.

When Andy McGaffigan took over with one out in the seventh Monday, Perez was given a standing ovation by the crowd of 50,432.

“I’m happy to see the fans accept me,” Perez, 30, said. “I feel I’m lucky to be with the Expos. Because it was part of the pennant race, it is one of the best games I ever pitched.

“I never thought I’d be back.”

Andres Galarraga also had a good game for Montreal. The first baseman from Venezuela hit his 12th home run, a double and single and drove in three runs to help beat Danny Cox (9-5).

The Expos are 8-4 against the Cardinals, and Galarraga has had 24 hits in the 12 games.

Houston 4, San Francisco 2--Mike Scott retired the last 26 Giants, and again was accused of doctoring the ball, as the Astros moved to within 4 1/2 games of the Giants by winning at Houston.

Scott (15-10) gave up three straight hits and two runs in the first inning, then retired 26 in a row. It was a 2-2 tie when Glenn Davis snapped out of a slump with his 22nd home run.

Giants Manager Roger Craig was thrown out in the eighth inning after he asked the umpires to check Scott, claiming the baseball was being scuffed. The umpires found no evidence of that, and when Craig persisted, he was ejected.

Philadelphia 5, New York 3--Juan Samuel hit a two-run single in the seventh inning to break a 2-2 tie at New York and end Dwight Gooden’s four-game winning streak.

It was the Phillies’ first victory in seven appearances at Shea Stadium this year and kept the Mets 3 1/2 games behind St. Louis.

The Phillies trailed, 2-1, going into the seventh. Mike Schmidt doubled on Gooden’s first pitch of the inning, and Lance Parrish singled on the second to tie it. Two walks and an out later, Samuel picked up his 90th and 91st RBIs.

Pittsburgh 3, Chicago 2--General Manager Dallas Green has expressed disappointment with the play of the Cubs this season and, after this loss at Chicago, Manager Gene Michael said he didn’t plan to return next year.

“I have decided not to come back,” he said in a radio interview. “Of course, nobody’s asked me if I want to come back.”

Reportedly, Michael not only won’t be invited back, he’ll be relieved of his job today.

After striking out twice, Bobby Bonilla hit a two-run double in the eighth to rally the Pirates.

Pirate reliever Jeff Robinson tied a major league record when he struck out the side in the eighth on nine pitches.

San Diego 11, Atlanta 4--Garry Templeton hit a two-run single to highlight a five-run first inning at Atlanta as the Padres routed the Braves. The Padres, who are trying to get out of last place in the West, trail the fifth-place Dodgers by one game and fourth-place Atlanta by 2 1/2.