National League Roundup : Cubs’ Rookie Pico Defeats Reds, 4-0, in Debut

For starters, Jeff Pico found the National League hitters about as easy as the hitters in the minors.

After going 20 innings in a row for Iowa of the American Assn. without giving up an earned run, the Cubs gave the youngster from Antioch, Calif., a chance Tuesday at Chicago.

He responded with a four-hitter and a 4-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Pico became the first Cub pitcher since Bill Lee, 54 years ago, to pitch a shutout in his debut.

A 13th-round draft choice out of high school in 1984, Pico worked his way through the Cub farm system. He finally matured in triple A this spring. After going 10-9 with a 4.31 earned-run average last season split between double and triple A, he was 5-2 with a 2.24 earned-run average this season.

“I was nervous, this is happiness, I’m thrilled,” the 22-year-old right-hander told the Associated Press. “That’s the best I’ve pitched all season.”

Andre Dawson hit his 11th home run in the first inning and the Cubs scored twice in the second inning.

“When they gave me a 3-0 lead, I told myself this is not the time to get behind the hitters,” Pico said. “I’m not a power pitcher. I mixed up my pitches and tried to keep everything down.”

Two of the Cincinnati hits were by Dave Collins.

The youngster impressed the Reds’ acting manager, Tommy Helms.

“He had good off-speed stuff and he had our hitters off stride,” Helms said, before turning the club back to Manager Pete Rose.

Having passed his first major league test, Pico will face Dwight Gooden and the New York Mets Sunday.

St. Louis 9, Houston 7--Ozzie Smith picked the hottest pitcher in the league for his first home run since he hit one off then-Dodger Tom Niedenfuer in the 1985 playoffs.

Smith hit a three-run homer to cap a five-run, fourth inning rally at Houston that sent Bob Knepper to his first defeat.

Knepper went into the game with a 6-0 record and a 1.28 ERA. He gave up eight runs in six innings in this one, but only two were earned.

Larry McWilliams (4-0) was the winner and Todd Worrell gave up one run in the last 2 innings for his 14th save.

Tom Brunansky hit his seventh home run for the Cardinals and extended his hitting streak to 16 games. He has driven in 34 runs in 35 games.

San Francisco 9, Montreal 2--Robby Thompson hit his first home run of the season, a three-run shot in the sixth inning at Montreal to end the Giants’ four-game losing streak.

Rick Reuschel (7-3) gave up eight hits in seven innings, but with the Giants hammering the ball, it was a breeze.

Jeffrey Leonard broke out of his slump with three hits, including his second home run.

The nine runs equaled the Giants output in the previous four games.

San Diego 8, Philadelphia 0--Andy Hawkins pitched a four-hitter and Tony Gwynn, back in form after an injury, knocked in three runs at Philadelphia. The Phillies had won four in a row.

Marvell Wynne had four hits and scored four runs as the Padres worked over David Palmer (0-5).

Gwynn, who had a double and two sacrifice flies, was playing in only his third game since coming off the disabled list. He is only 2 for 12.

Atlanta 11, Pittsburgh 1--There was a partial power outage at Atlanta, but not until after the lowly Braves unloaded on the Pirates.

While Tom Glavine was holding the Pirates to four hits in eight innings, the Braves pounded 17 hits, four of them by Ken Oberkfell.

The game was delayed 15 minutes by the power problem in the eighth with the Braves leading, 8-1.