National League Roundup : Guerrero, Cardinals Shut Out

Pedro Guerrero made his debut in a St. Louis Cardinals uniform Wednesday night, but it certainly wasn’t one St. Louis fans will remember.

Dave Meads, making a last-minute start for injured Bob Knepper, teamed with three relievers on a three-hitter, and Glenn Davis scored on a wild pitch as the Houston Astros shut out the Cardinals, 1-0, at St. Louis.

Guerrero, who was traded Tuesday from the Dodgers for pitcher John Tudor, went 0 for 3 as the Cardinals were shut out for the 15th time this season.

“I don’t know what is in the fans’ minds, but I know what my role is and I can’t worry about what somebody else did,” Guerrero told Associated Press before the game.

“I’m different than Jack Clark, I’m a different player than he is. I’m just going to do my job and not worry about anything else.”

Cardinal Manager Whitey Herzog put Guerrero in Clark’s spot at first base and batted him fourth, ahead of Tom Brunansky in the lineup.

Knepper could not pitch because of a pulled groin muscle. It was the first start of the season for Meads (2-0), who went a career-high six innings. His longest previous stint with the Astros this season had been 4 innings.

Meads allowed two hits, struck out four and walked two. Only two Cardinals reached second base against Meads. Juan Agosto took over for Meads and was relieved by Larry Andersen in the eighth inning with one out. Dave Smith pitched the ninth inning for his 22nd save.

Chicago 5, Cincinnati 0--Rick Sutcliffe pitched a four-hitter, and Mitch Webster singled in two runs to lead the Cubs past the Reds at Cincinnati.

Sutcliffe (10-10), allowed three singles and a double in his team-leading ninth complete game in 23 starts. He allowed only one runner to reach third base and won for the third time in his last four starts.

It was Sutcliffe’s second shutout of the season and 15th of his career. He struck out four and walked none.

The loss snapped the Reds’ three-game winning streak. Cincinnati’s longest winning streak this season is four.

San Francisco 4, New York 0--Rick Reuschel pitched a two-hitter, retiring 17 consecutive batters between Wally Backman’s singles as the Giants won at Candlestick Park.

Backman lined a hit off Reuschel’s right leg in the first inning and bounced a single over the mound and into center field in the seventh. The only other batter to reach first base was Lee Mazzilli, who walked in the ninth.

Reuschel (16-6), had four strikeouts en route to his second shutout of the season and the 26th of his career. He has pitched five two-hitters in his career, including three last season.

The Mets’ David Cone (12-3), allowed seven hits and struck out 12 to tie his career-high as he lost for the first time since July 4. He also struck out 12 in seven innings in his last start.

The loss reduced the Mets’ lead to 4 1/2 games over Pittsburgh.

San Diego 4, Montreal 2--Tony Gwynn keyed a four-run sixth inning with a bases-load single to lift the Padres past the Expos at San Diego.

Gwynn, who went 2 for 4, has eight hits in his last 12 at-bats with six RBIs. He is tied with Atlanta’s Gerald Perry for the National League batting lead with a .321 average.

San Diego starter Dennis Rasmussen (12-7), allowed only four hits in 6 innings. He walked two and struck out four. Mark Davis pitched 2 innings for his 21st save.

Montreal starter Bryn Smith (8-7) held the Padres to four hits in five innings before the Padres scored four runs on five hits in the sixth.

Pittsburgh 2, Atlanta 1--Dave LaPoint allowed three hits in seven innings in his Pittsburgh debut, and Jose Lind and Tom Prince drove in runs to move the Pirates closer to the first-place Mets at Pittsburgh.

LaPoint, who won his last three decisions with the Chicago White Sox before being traded for relief pitcher Barry Jones last Saturday, retired 11 consecutive batters at one point. He struck out two and walked none while throwing only 71 pitches in beating Atlanta for the second time in seven career decisions.

Jeff Robinson pitched the eighth and Jim Gott the ninth for his 22nd save as the Pirates won for the fourth time in five games. Gott has the most saves by a Pirate since Kent Tekulve saved 31 in 1979.