National League Roundup : Youmans Is Too Tough, Two-Hits Giants, 6-0

As a high school teammate of Dwight Gooden, Floyd Youmans could throw just as hard as the star right-hander of the New York Mets.

He still can. The similarity ends right there. While Gooden has developed into one of the best pitchers in baseball, Youmans has been an enigma.

Youmans is one of those guys with great potential who never quite makes it. But just about the time a team is ready to give up on him, he does something spectacular.

The 24-year-old right-hander was brought out of the bullpen for another last chance Saturday at San Francisco. Youmans responded with a two-hitter in pitching the Montreal Expos to a 6-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants.

In his first win since last Sept. 6, Youmans (1-3), struck out seven and walked one. In six previous starts, Youmans had control trouble, giving up 24 walks in 34 innings and compiling an earned-run average of 5.09.

Youmans, beset by problems the last two seasons, has won only 27 games, but four of them have been two-hitters.

“They’ve always had high expectations for me because of the way I throw the ball,” he said. “I’ve been through a lot recently.”

In one month last season he pitched three shutouts. But, he missed two months with assorted injuries and spent October in an alcohol rehabilitation program.

This year he had a poor spring and a worse start. He impressed Giant Manager Roger Craig in this outing.

“It wasn’t so much a hitting slump as a case of of a guy with a great arm,” Craig said. “Youmans has the potential to be one of the best in the business.”

Youmans gave up singles to Candy Maldonado in the second and Chris Speier in the seventh. In addition to the strikeouts, Youmans got nine batters on popups. That’s domination.

Andres Galarraga provided all the offense Youmans needed with two hits, including his ninth home run.

St. Louis 7, Houston 4--Although the Cardinals won the pennant last season, catcher Tony Pena was not one of the stars. In fact, the trade in which the Cardinals gave up Andy Van Slyke and Mike Dunne for Pena is considered a steal for Pittsburgh.

But, with a new stance and a new outlook, Pena is beginning to regain his best hitting form.

Pena tagged Joaquin Andujar for a three-run home run in the 11th inning at St. Louis to give the Cardinals the victory. It was his fifth home run of the season and second in two nights.

“I was down on myself until Whitey (Manager Herzog) and (hitting instructor) Johnny (Lewis) suggested a change in stance,” Pena said.

“I have a better angle on the ball with the new stance. I can see all of the ball now. I was dropping my head before and I had trouble with the inside pitch.”

Tom Brunansky’s two-run home run in the sixth enabled the Cardinals to tie the score. Brunansky has driven in 27 runs in 26 games with the Cardinals.

Pittsburgh 7, Atlanta 3--The Braves are good to have around if a team wants to break a slump. Andy Van Slyke hit a three-run home run to break a 3-3 tie in the fifth inning at Pittsburgh to lead the Pirates to their second win in a row. Before the Braves arrived, the Pirates had lost five in a row.

Brian Fisher (4-0) survived a three-run first inning to get the victory although barely made it through five innings.

Chicago 11, Cincinnati 6--Vance Law and Darrin Jackson hit consecutive home runs in the third inning at Cincinnati, and the Cubs emerged from a hitting slump with an 18-hit barrage.

Leon Durham, acquired by the Reds from the Cubs Wednesday, had his first hit for his new club, a home run in the second inning. Jeff Treadway had two singles and extended his hitting streak to 14 games. But Reds’ starter Danny Jackson (5-2) was shelled for 13 hits in four innings.

Philadelphia 4, San Diego 3--Von Hayes and Juan Samuel hit home runs at San Diego, and Steve Bedrosian earned his first save with some superlative pitching.

Last year’s Cy Young Award winner came in with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth and escaped the jam. He retired five batters in a row.