National League Roundup : Driessen Plays the Winning Replacement Part

It is true that Jack Clark has provided the St. Louis Cardinals with much-needed power for the last three seasons. It is also true that when they have needed him the most, the brittle first baseman has been out with an injury.

In 1985, when Clark was injured, the Cardinals resurrected Cesar Cedeno and he provided some key hits to help the Cardinals win the National League pennant. Last year, when Clark tore ligaments in his thumb and missed more than 100 games, there was no replacement. The Cardinals faded away.

Clark sprained an ankle early this month, and maybe, St. Louis has found a replacement.

Dan Driessen, a contributor in several Cincinnati pennant drives, hit a two-run home run in the first inning Saturday at Chicago to lead the Cardinals to a 5-3 victory over the Cubs and increase their lead in the East to 3 1/2 games over the stumbling New York Mets.

It was the first home run in more than a year for the 36-year-old first baseman, who hit most of his previous 152 homers in an 11-year career with the Reds.

Terry Pendleton also hit a home run for the Cardinals to help John Tudor improve his record to 9-2 with his sixth victory in a row. Tudor, who missed 3 1/2 months after breaking a leg in a freak accident in April, gave up 4 hits in 5 innings.

The Cardinals needed three relievers to hold off the Cubs. Ken Dayley struck out Leon Durham for the final out with the potential tying runs on second and third.

The Cardinals’ unexpected power ruined Rick Sutcliffe’s bid for his 19th victory and fourth in a row. Pendleton’s home run was his 12th of the season.

Driessen has spent most of the last two seasons in the minors. The Cardinals brought him up Aug. 31, just in time to be eligible for the playoffs. He had only 2 hits in his first 19 at-bats, but lately he has been lending support to the attack, weakened by the loss of Clark. The home run was his 10th hit in the last 20 at-bats.

Pittsburgh 8, New York 2--Dwight Gooden learned that it doesn’t pay to get the feisty young Pirates upset.

The ace right-hander of the Mets had been critical of Pirate Manager Jim Leyland and his players for celebrating during a game last week. He predicted he would blow the Bucs down with his fastball. He said they had acted like Little Leaguers.

But in this game at New York, Barry Bonds hit a two-run home run, and the Pirates clubbed Gooden (15-7) for five runs and seven hits in three innings.

“I wasn’t annoyed at Gooden’s remarks,” Leyland said. Then he shouted: “Not bad for a bunch of Little Leaguers.

Gooden, who was 7-0 against the Pirates until Saturday, said, “I don’t take back a single thing I said. I would do it again. They were out to get me and they did.”

Montreal 7, Philadelphia 4--The Expos’ good-luck charm, Pascual Perez, came through again at Philadelphia to keep their title hopes alive.

Perez (6-0) gave up just two hits in six innings, but one was a three-run home run by Mike Schmidt, and he trailed, 3-2, when the Expos batted for him in the seventh. The Expos rallied for five runs, four on a grand slam by Hubie Brooks, to make it seven wins in the seven games Perez has started.

The Expos trail the Cardinals by four games with eight left, four of them with the Cardinals.

Shane Rawley (17-11) lost his fifth in a row.

Atlanta 10, San Francisco 5--In an attempt to get the victory that would clinch at least a tie for the Giants’ first division title since 1971, Manager Roger Craig brought in his ace, Rick Reuschel, in relief.

Reuschel, whose 2.78 ERA was the best among starting pitchers, lasted two innings, giving up four hits and five runs, all earned.

The Giants’ magic number is still two.

Houston 5, Cincinnati 3--Terry Puhl hit a three-run homer in a fight-marred game at Cincinnati that all but ended the Reds’ pennant chances.

Beanballs were the problem. An inside pitch by Danny Darwin (9-10) brought 6-foot 5-inch Dave Parker charging to the mound in the fourth inning. There was a brief scuffle, and Parker was ejected.

In the bottom of the inning, Red starter Ron Robinson was ejected for throwing a pitch behind Darwin.