National League Roundup : Jackson Gets 20th Win and 4 Hits as Reds Roll

Danny Jackson is not likely to forget the game in which he became a 20-game winner. It happened to be one of the best days a pitcher has ever had.

Jackson held the Cubs to 6 hits Sunday at Chicago and also had 4 hits and scored 4 runs as the Cincinnati Reds demolished the Cubs, 17-0.

It not only made Jackson (20-6) the first 20-game winner in the National League, but it improved the Reds’ chances in the West. With the Dodgers rained out at New York, the Reds pulled to within 6 1/2 games of the Dodgers.

The talented left-hander didn’t walk a batter and struck out 3 in pitching his sixth shutout and league-leading 13th complete game.

Jackson started a nine-run fifth inning with a double and also had a run-scoring single.

He also had a single in a four-run third inning outburst and singled again in the ninth. He went into the game 9 for 74 (.122).

Infielder Luis Quinones drove in five runs with a two-run single and a three-run home run.

Jackson, who was 11-18 last year at Kansas City, wanted to talk about his hitting.

“When I won the 19th, there was no question I would reach 20,” Jackson said. “The shocker was my getting four hits.

“I never got to hit at Kansas City, but (Royals’ third baseman) Kevin Seitzer worked with me early in the year and told me, ‘Hey, when you go over to the National League, those pitchers are not just going to let you stroke the ball off them. You’ve got to be aggressive. But you can be a hitter with a lot of work.’

“It was a shocker to me when I got that third hit and I have to say that this was just a great day to remember.”

The Reds gave up shortstop Kurt Stillwell and pitcher Ted Power in the deal that brought Jackson to them.

The Reds, who were 10 games behind the Dodgers after last Tuesday’s games, play at Houston tonight and Tuesday night. They will play three games at Los Angeles next weekend and should find out if they are really in the race.

Houston 4, St. Louis 3--Another team in the West getting a boost was the Astros.

Bob Knepper (13-4), making his first appearance since injuring his groin Aug. 16, staggered through five innings at Houston to get the victory that put the Astros 5 games behind the Dodgers.

Kevin Bass hit a two-run home run in a three-run first inning that gave Knepper the cushion he needed. Knepper gave up 3 runs and 8 hits, walking 2, before Danny Darwin took over in the sixth.

“It was like the first game of the season, I’ve been out so long,” Knepper said. “My leg got tired and stiff at the end. But I’ve come a long way in two weeks.”

Greg Mathews (3-5), trying to come back from injury, was the victim in the first. With one out the left-hander walked Bill Doran and Bass hit his 13th home run. With two out Buddy Bell singled and scored on Billy Hatcher’s triple.

“He (Mathews) was high-balling them and you can’t get away with it,” St. Louis Manager Whitey Herzog said.

Montreal 3, San Francisco 2--Their trip East virtually finished the Giants’ hopes of repeating in the West as Manager Roger Craig promised they would.

Andres Galarraga doubled home two runs at Montreal as the Expos completed a sweep of the three-game series and dropped the Giants 8 games behind the Dodgers.

Brian Holman, starting in place of Dennis Martinez, whose back was hurting, gave up 7 hits and 6 walks, but only 1 earned run in 7 innings to beat Giant ace Rick Reuschel (17-8).

“If you had told me we would win only two (of nine games) on this trip, I wouldn’t have believed it,” Craig said. “We’re going nowhere in the standings.”