National League Roundup : Parrish and Phillies Give Them One More Reason to Shout, 9-3

Philadelphia sports fans have often been tough on the home team. Just ask Richie Allen, who couldn’t escape the boos despite hitting 40 home runs for the Phillies in 1966.

Lance Parrish, a free-agent catcher who signed before the 1987 season, was a target of the fans’ anger all year as he struggled to a .245 average with 17 home runs and 67 runs batted in.

The jeers are giving way to cheers this season. Parrish is one reason the Phillies haven’t had their fourth consecutive poor start. In three previous seasons, they began 1-8, 2-8 and 1-8.

Parrish hit a three-run home run and drove in five runs Saturday at Philadelphia as the Phillies trounced the New York Mets, 9-3, for their third straight victory.

Don Carman, who survived a rocky start to pitch a three-hitter, improved the Phillies’ record to 3-1. He gave up only one hit after Lenny Dykstra led off the third inning with a home run.

Parrish, who batted .188 with three home runs last April, had a two-run home run Friday night.

He promised early in spring training that Philadelphia fans would see the real Lance Parrish this season.

“I feel more comfortable this year,” he said. “I was sure I could make more of a contribution, and I’m just glad that I have.

“In spring training, my main objective was to drive the ball, make solid contact. That made it possible for me to get off to the good start.”

Poor baserunning by Gary Carter, who stood on second base while Tim Teufel’s fly ball dropped in front of left fielder Phil Bradley and was forced at third, cost the Mets a potentially big second inning. But they led, 1-0, when Parrish came to the plate with two on in the bottom of the inning and crashed a 3-and-2 pitch from Rick Aguilera (0-1) over the left-center field wall.

The Mets, favored to win the East, are 2-3.

San Francisco 3, San Diego 1--One would think Kevin Mitchell might treat the Padres a little better. After all, the last-place club sent him to the Giants, the West Division champions last season.

Mitchell, traded last July 4, hit a home run against his former mates for the second game in a row at San Francisco, and the Padres fell to 0-5.

The Padres, who have scored only 7 runs in 5 games, had 9 hits off Rick Reuschel in 8 innings, but hit into three double plays, including one to end the game after Scott Garrelts rescued Reuschel.

“I love it over here,” said Mitchell, who is hitting .450 lifetime against the Padres. “I’d much rather be over here than over there.”

Will Clark, who hit 35 home runs for the Giants last year, hit his first of the season to help San Francisco improve to 4-1.

Cincinnati 5, Houston 4--Kal Daniels is enjoying hitting third instead of first in the Reds’ batting order.

He hit two solo home runs, then hit a two-run single in the ninth inning at Cincinnati to power the Reds to a come-from-behind victory.

In four games since moving into the third spot after Dave Parker was traded to the Oakland Athletics, Daniels has 3 homers, 9 runs batted in and is hitting . 647.

The Reds beat bullpen ace Dave Smith in the ninth. Chris Sabo walked to start the rally. Dave Collins’ potential double-play grounder took a bad hop and went for a single. Barry Larkin bunted safely to load the bases.

After Jeff Treadway forced Sabo at the plate, Daniels hit a 2-and-2 pitch to left-center and two runs scored as Daniels completed a 4-for-4 day.

St. Louis 3, Pittsburgh 0--Ozzie Smith was beginning to wonder if the Cardinals were going to win at all this season. The shortstop who became an offensive factor last season, took charge at St. Louis.

Smith singled in one run and drove in another with a sacrifice fly as the Cardinals turned the fine pitching of Greg Mathews into their first win after three defeats.

Mathews held the Pirates to three hits in eight innings and bullpen ace Todd Worrell pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save.

Barry Bonds and Bobby Bonilla, the Pirates’ hot hitters, divided the team’s four hits.

Montreal 10, Chicago 6--Hubie Brooks drove in four runs with a home run and a double at Montreal, and the Expos outlasted the Cubs in a slugfest.

There were 22 hits in the game, seven for extra bases.

The Expos hammered Calvin Schiraldi, a relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox making his debut as a starter for the Cubs.

Dennis Martinez held the Cubs to three hits in five innings, but had to leave because of a blister on his pitching hand.