McWilliams’ 2-Hit Shutout Stops Reds, Improves His Record to 3-0

Larry McWilliams is glad he made that second phone call last winter.

“There wasn’t anybody there the first time I called,” McWilliams said Wednesday after he pitched St. Louis to a 6-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. “I called back. Obviously, in my situation, I was looking for anybody that wanted me.”

McWilliams, a minor league pitcher a year ago, pitched a two-hitter for his first shutout since Aug. 1, 1984, and first complete game since June 16, 1985.

McWilliams, whose minor league contract was purchased at the start of the year when the St. Louis starting rotation was hit by injuries, improved his record to 3-0 in his fifth start. He also has 10 relief appearances.

“He feels he has control. He doesn’t make mistakes,” center fielder Willie McGee said of McWilliams’ 146-pitch effort. “He’s in a better groove now than I’ve ever seen him.”

McWilliams struck out eight and walked six and pitched St. Louis’ first complete-game shutout of the season. He lowered his earned-run average to 1.46, second in the National League.

Cincinnati’s only hits were singles by Buddy Bell in the fourth and Dave Collins in the sixth.

“He threw the ball well. He kept us off-balance,” Red first baseman Lloyd McClendon said.

Mario Soto, 3-3 for the season and 4-9 lifetime against the Cardinals, lasted only four innings and took the loss.

The Cardinals scored in the first inning when Vince Coleman singled, stole his 23rd base, advanced to third on Ozzie Smith’s sacrifice and scored on McGee’s infield out.

St. Louis added three runs in the second inning. Luis Alicea doubled home Tony Pena, who had walked, and scored on McWilliams’ single. McWilliams scored on Coleman’s triple.

Tom Brunansky homered in the fifth inning off reliever Pat Pacillo after McGee had doubled with two outs. It was Brunansky’s sixth homer of the season. Brunansky has 29 runs batted in in the 30 games he has played with the Cardinals.

A Senior Citizens Day turnout of 40,168 sent St. Louis’ home attendance over the one-million mark at 1,003,465 for 24 home dates. It is the earliest date at which the Cardinals have topped one million, bettered only three times in major league history--all by the Dodgers.