National League Roundup : Rawley Finally Snaps His Long Losing Streak

As the National League swung into September last year, Shane Rawley of the Philadelphia Phillies was having his finest season.

With a 17-6 record, there were only two questions concerning the 31-year-old left-hander. One, would he win 20 games for the first time in a 10-year career? And would he win the Cy Young Award?

The answer to both questions was no. In fact, Rawley did not win another game until Friday night at Atlanta.

Rawley ended a 10-game losing streak by pitching a strong seven innings in the Phillies’ 7-3 victory over the Braves. Through seven innings, Rawley gave up just three singles. When he faltered in the eighth, Kent Tekulve came to the rescue.

The Phillies made it easy for Rawley, who had not won since beating the Dodgers last Aug. 31. The first four batters got on base and also scored.

“I knew it had to end sometime,” Rawley said. “I felt I pitched as good several other nights as I did tonight. The only difference was I got some runs.

“After losing five last year and five this, I was beginning to press. Now I can just go out and pitch.”

Bob Dernier had four hits, and Juan Samuel drove in three runs to pace the Phillies’ attack.

New York 4, Cincinnati 3--The sizzling bat of Darryl Strawberry carried the Mets to another victory at New York.

After rookie Chris Sabo hit his sixth home run in the top of the 10th to give the Reds the lead, Strawberry hit a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the inning.

The home run came after reliever John Franco (0-2) retired the first two batters, then walked Keith Hernandez. Strawberry’s ninth home run accounted for the first two earned runs off Franco in 18 innings this season.

It was a tough loss for the Reds, who pulled even in the seventh by scoring twice off Dwight Gooden, ending his scoreless string at 20 innings.

Gooden went 9 innings, giving up 11 hits and only 2 runs, but he failed to become the first seven-game winner in the league.

Chicago 3, San Francisco 2--A shift to the leadoff spot was just the right move for Ryne Sandberg.

Sandberg and backup catcher Jim Sundberg hit home runs at Chicago to help Greg Maddux improve his record to 5-2 and give the Cubs their fourth win in a row.

In six games as the leadoff batter, Sandberg has hit safely in each and is batting .393. He has 11 hits in 28 at-bats, including 4 doubles and 2 home runs.

“I like leading off as long as we’re successful and winning games,” said Sandberg, who usually bats either second or third. “It certainly has brought me out of my .183 slump.”

The Giants, deep in a hitting slump, lost pitcher Mike LaCoss, who developed a spasm in his right shoulder, after five innings.

Pittsburgh 4, San Diego 1--When hard-throwing Mark Davis retired the first two Pirate batters in the 12th inning at Pittsburgh, he set a Padre record by pitching 20 scoreless innings.

But Davis, who struck out 30 batters while breaking Rich Gossage’s mark, not only didn’t retire another batter, he also lost the game.

Andy Van Slyke and Bobby Bonilla singled, and former Dodger Sid Bream hit a three-run home run to hand the Padres their sixth consecutive defeat.

Until Davis fell apart, it had been a series of fine pitching performances beginning with starters Mark Grant of the Padres and Bob Walk. Going into the 12th, there had been only 2 runs and 12 hits.

Montreal 6, Houston 5--Tim Raines singled with the bases loaded and one out in the 11th inning at Montreal to put the Expos at the .500 mark.

The hit scored Jeff Reed, who opened the inning with a double off loser Ernie Camacho (0-2).

In both the eighth and ninth innings, the Astros rallied to tie. Glenn Davis’ run-scoring grounder tied it in the eighth, 4-4, and Alan Ashby homered in the ninth to tie it again.

Kevin Bass hit two home runs for the Astros.

The Astros gave Mike Scott a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning, but the league’s strikeout leader was taken out in the sixth when Montreal went in front, 4-2.