Walton, Grace Hit Home Runs; Cubs Win 4th Straight

Jerome Walton and Mark Grace both have something to prove. Each made his point Tuesday as the Chicago Cubs won their fourth straight game with a 5-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Walton, a rookie who earned the center field job in spring training, hit safely in his seventh straight game, homered and scored three runs, including the tie-breaker in the eighth inning. Grace, who joined the Cubs last season, hit his first homer in Wrigley Field and drove in three runs, including the game-winner.

“I’ve got something to prove,” said Walton, who’s trying to make the jump from the double-A Eastern League. “Everybody said the Cubs were rushing me. All I’m trying to do is prove I can play in the big leagues.”

“He’s been outstanding,” Cubs Manager Don Zimmer said. “he has played seven games as good as you can play.”

Walton and Mitch Webster drew walks off losing pitcher Jose DeLeon, 1-1, to open the eighth. DeLeon was relieved by Todd Worrell and Walton and Webster pulled off a double steal.

Ryne Sandberg fouled out and Andre Dawson was walked intentionally to fill the bases. Ken Dayley, a left-hander, came in to pitch to the left-handed-hitting Grace--with Worrell moved to right field.

Grace grounded into a force play at second as Walton scored the tie-breaking run.

“Almost worked,” said Herzog, who was looking for a double play. “Grace just didn’t hit the ball hard enough.”

Herzog said he’s switched a pitcher to the outfield “seven or eight times in the past.” Zimmer said he wasn’t surprised by the switch and had done the same thing.

“That move has been going on as long as there’s been baseball,” said Zimmer.

Grace hit seven home runs as a rookie last year--all on the road.

“I wasn’t worried about it,” said Grace of his lack of power at Wrigley Field last season. “I knew it would happen eventually. The law of averages you know.”

Grace’s homer, which gave the Cubs a 4-3 lead, came on a 3-0 pitch with two outs in the sixth after Dawson had singled.

“It’s nice to know Zimmer has confidence in me,” said Grace.

Calvin Schiraldi, 1-0, was the winner and Mitch Williams picked up his third save.

The Cardinals tied it 4-4 with a run in the seventh. Terry Pendleton led off with a single, chasing starter Greg Maddux, and Schiraldi walked Brunansky. Milt Thompson drove in the run with a single.

Walton led off the Cubs first with his second homer, extending his hitting streak to seven games. He is hitting .357.

The Cardinals went ahead 2-1 in the third when Vince Coleman singled and Pedro Guerrero hit his third homer, a 400-foot-plus drive that cleared the wall in left-center and landed on Waveland Ave.

The Cubs tied it in the bottom of the third. Walton beat out a bunt single, went to third on DeLeon’s throwing error and scored on a bunt single by Webster.

The Cardinals regained the lead in the sixth on successive singles by Thompson, Jose Oquendo and Tony Pena.

Maddux struck out six but gave up 11 hits before he left in the seventh.