National League Roundup : Brunansky Supplies Power for Cardinals in 5-3 Win Over Giants

They may not be in the pennant race yet, but the St. Louis Cardinals, with considerable help from Tom Brunansky, have avoided disaster.

The defending National League champions, beset by injuries to half their pitching staff and unable to score runs, opened the season by losing 11 of their first 15 games.

Desperate for runs and facing a trip West that could wipe out their season, the Cardinals traded second baseman Tommy Herr to the World Series champion Minnesota Twins for Brunansky, the long-ball-hitting outfielder.

Brunansky has come through beyond expectations, some of the pitchers have regained health and the Cardinals won six out of nine in the West.

It was a three-run home run by Brunansky that climaxed a five-run fifth-inning rally Wednesday at San Francisco, giving the Cardinals a 5-3 victory over the light-hitting Giants.

He was in an early-season slump before the trade, but Brunansky has delivered for the Cardinals. He has 4 home runs, 12 runs batted in and a .317 average in 11 games.

During the World Series, Brunansky helped the Twins beat the Cardinals, but he has already become a St. Louis favorite.

“He came over here ready to play,” third baseman Terry Pendleton said. “He doesn’t care what uniform he’s in. He leads our club in homers and ribbies (RBIs), and he’s been here just a little over a week.”

At the time of the trade, Brunansky was floundering as much as the Cardinals.

“I had been struggling,” said Brunansky, who was batting only .178. “I’m starting to feel relaxed. These guys made it real easy for me.

“I walked into the clubhouse and turned my World Series ring around (on my finger). I didn’t want to turn anybody off. I shook hands with Joe Magrane, and he was shaving, so I had shaving cream all over my ring.”

The Giants could use some laughter. They wrapped up a 4-7 homestand. Despite 11 hits in this game, they batted only .212 in those 11 games at Candlestick Park.

The Giants scored twice off Greg Mathews (2-2) in the third inning but didn’t score again until Jeffrey Leonard and Bob Brenly hit consecutive doubles. An error put two runners on, but Todd Worrell escaped by getting Jose Uribe to bounce into a double play and striking out Harry Spilman.

The Giants put two more runners on in the ninth, but Worrell survived again. Although he hasn’t pitched very well, the big right-hander has had a save in 8 of the 11 Cardinal victories.

Cincinnati 3, Philadelphia 1--Two-hitters are becoming routine to Cincinnati pitchers. Monday, Ron Robinson had a perfect game for 8 innings and settled for a two-hitter.

Left-hander Danny Jackson, an 18-game loser for the Kansas City Royals last season, improved his record to 4-1 in this game at Cincinnati by pitching a two-hitter.

At the start, it appeared Jackson was going to do it all himself. He retired the first nine batters, five on bouncers back to the box.

Lance Parrish singled in the fourth for the Phillies’ first hit, and Juan Samuel doubled in the ninth for the other.

Rookie Chris Sabo provided most of the Reds’ offense. He had three hits and stole three bases.

New York 8, Houston 0--Just when Sid Fernandez was pitching the kind of game that would inspire faith from any manager, he was injured.

Fernandez, about to work his way out of Manager Davey Johnson’s doghouse in this game at New York, had a one-hitter and a 6-0 lead through five innings. But his right hamstring tightened and Fernandez (1-1) had to leave.

Terry Leach gave up one more hit in the last four innings as the Mets turned in their second consecutive 8-0 victory.

Lenny Dykstra continued his hot hitting for the Mets. He had a double and three singles in five at-bats and has 12 hits in his last 26 trips.

Howard Johnson and Tim Teufel hit home runs to give the Mets 18 homers in the last 12 games.

Atlanta 7, Montreal 5--Slowly but surely, Bruce Sutter is returning to the form that made him the most feared reliever in the majors.

Sutter, who missed most of the last two seasons because of arm problems, pitched two perfect innings to earn his first save in almost two years in this game at Montreal.

Earlier in the year, Sutter got a victory. His last save was on May 17, 1986.

Dale Murphy, thriving in the No. 3 spot, and Ozzie Virgil hit home runs for the Braves, who built a 6-1 lead, then almost blew it.

Chicago 6, San Diego 3--Rookie Mark Grace hit his first major league home run as the Cubs extended the Padre slump to five games in this game at San Diego.

Rick Sutcliffe went 6 innings to get the victory, and Rich Gossage, a former Padre, pitched the ninth to get his third save.

Andy Hawkins (3-2) had only himself to blame for the end of his three-game winning streak. In the Cubs’ four-run fifth inning, he made two errors and walked two batters.

Keith Moreland hit his first homer as a Padre.