National League Roundup : Met Pride Takes Another Beating

By DAN HAFNER

July 25, 1988 12 AM PT

It was a humiliating weekend for the proud New York Mets. Two pitchers who had never won in the major leagues, beat them in successive games at New York.

Saturday, John Smoltz, a young Atlanta pitcher with promise, held them to four hits in eight innings and won his major-league debut.

But it was adding insult to injury Sunday when German Jimenez, who had an 0-3 record and a 7.27 earned-run average, held the leaders of the NL East to 1 run and 4 hits in 5 innings as the Braves won, 4-2.

With the Dodgers again beating Pittsburgh, the Mets still have a two-game lead, but it’s a shaky one at best.

Dale Murphy, making a late-season rally, hit his 18th home run, went 2 for 4 and is hitting .351 in his last 9 games with 3 homers and 9 runs batted in.

Jimenez, a portly left-hander who speaks no English, was purchased by the Braves from the Mexican League. He was promised a 30-day trial and this was his fourth and final start. The Braves will have to make a decision on the 26 year old soon.

After two poor starts, he gave up 2 runs and 3 hits in 6 innings last Tuesday against Philadelphia. And now this one.

The Mets have been in a slump since June 6, when Keith Hernandez, their leader, was hurt. At the time they led the division by seven games over the Pirates and their 38-17 record was the best in the majors.

Without Hernandez the Mets are 20-22 and he is not expected back until Aug. 5. Meanwhile, Darryl Strawberry is feeling the pressure trying to carry the load. He struck out three times before hitting his 25th home run, a long blast off Charlie Puleo in the ninth.

In pregame ceremonies on “Tom Seaver Day,” the former Met pitching great was inducted into the Mets’ Hall of Fame and his uniform No. 41 was retired.

San Francisco 5, St. Louis 0--There have been problems between these two clubs since managers Whitey Herzog of the Cardinals and Roger Craig nearly came to blows in a brawl two years ago.

Tempers flared again at St. Louis to take some of the limelight away from Rick Reuschel’s 7-hitter for his first complete game and his 13th win in 18 decisions.

Will Clark, who hit a three-run home run in the fifth to give Reuschel his 5-run cushion, singled in the eighth inning and then slid hard into second baseman Jose Oquendo, trying to break up a double play.

Oquendo and Clark exchanged words, Clark swung at Oquendo and both benches emptied. Ozzie Smith swung at Clark and when order was restored, Clark and Oquendo were ejected. Two pitches later, Cardinal pitcher Scott Terry, just off the disabled list, was thrown out for throwing a pitch close to the Giants’ Mike Aldrete.

Clark said Oquendo and Smith took “cheap shots at me.” However, the Giants’ first baseman, who slid well past the base to get at Oquendo, who wasn’t trying to throw to first, is 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds. Oquendo is 5-10, 156, and Smith, who Clark says missed on all three swings, is 5-10 and 150.

Smith wound up with a split lip. Otherwise there were no injuries.

Craig said the Cardinals were crybabies. It was the final meeting of the year for the two teams.

Philadelphia 6, Houston 4--Mike Schmidt’s disputed three-run home run in the seventh inning at Houston gave the Phillies a 6-0 lead and it was just a little too much for the Astros to overcome.

Kevin Gross (10-6) departed in the eighth and the Phillies finally called on top reliever Steve Bedrosian. Bedrosian got the last five outs for his 19th save and ended the Astros’ six-game winning streak. The loss dropped the Astros six games behind the Dodgers in the West.

Schmidt’s 10th homer of the season and 540th of his career was a drive down the left-field line that was ruled fair by umpire John McSherry. Manager Hal Lanier argued in vain that it was foul.

San Diego 2, Chicago 1--John Kruk hit the first pitch of the game at Chicago for his seventh home run and Rick Sutcliffe (7-9) lost another tough one.

Sutcliffe did end Tony Gwynn’s hitting streak at 18 games. The hot-hitting Padre was 0 for 4.

Jimmy Jones held the Cubs to four hits in eight innings and Mark Davis pitched the ninth for his 17th save.

Montreal 5, Cincinnati 3--Tim Wallach, coming out of a year-long slump, hit a home run in the fifth for the Expos’ first hit at Cincinnati, then doubled in a three-run sevenththat won the game.

Jack Armstrong held the Expos to two hits in six innings, but departed after walking the first batter in the seventh. Hubie Brooks hit a home run off Armstrong’s replacement, Rob Dibble, to get the Expos even.

TOM SEAVER CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Major League Records Set

Most seasons, 200 or more strikeouts--10, 1968-76, 78

Most consecutive seasons, 200 or more strikeouts--9, 1968-76

Most consecutive strikeouts, game--10, April 22, 1970

Most strikeouts, five-game championship series--17, 1973

Most opening day starting assignments--16

National League

Lowest ERA, 200 or more games won--2.73

Most strikeouts, right-handed pitcher, lifetime--3,272

National League Records Tied

Most season opening games won, lifetime--6