National League Roundup : Cubs Are Saved by Williams

The standings in the National League East must be upside down. The Chicago Cubs are supposed to be battling the Philadelphia Phillies for last place, not first.

The big difference in the Cubs, who improved their record to 6-2 with a 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals under the lights Wednesday night at Chicago, is the bullpen.

Mitch Williams came to the rescue of Paul Kilgus with two out in the ninth inning and recorded his fourth save in as many chances.

Kilgus and Williams were obtained in the deal that sent Rafael Palmeiro and pitcher Jamie Moyer from Texas.

Kilgus, who has one of the Cubs’ defeats, held the Cardinals to six hits and was working on a shutout going into the ninth.

An error by shortstop Domingo Ramos put Vince Coleman on to open the inning. Two outs later, Tom Brunansky hit a home run, and Williams was summoned. He gave up a single to Tony Pena but struck out Jose Oquendo to end it.

It was a disputed strikeout. Umpire Charlie Williams ruled that an inside pitch tipped Oquendo’s bat.

“I didn’t hit nothing,” Oquendo said. “If I’d tipped it, they would have heard it.”

“I don’t overpower anyone,” said Kilgus, who started fast for the Rangers last year but wound up 12-15. “But I don’t walk many and I’m always around the plate.”

The Cardinals, who will play their first home game today, are now 2-4 and have lost another starting pitcher. Scott Terry, hit in the knee by a pitch, had to leave after three innings when the knee stiffened.

The Cardinals got a strong four innings from young Chris Carpenter in a losing cause.

” Both Kilgus and Williams have helped get us off to the fast start,” Manager Don Zimmer said. “We didn’t have anybody who get get a man out and save a game last season. It certainly appears we have one now.”

Philadelphia 6, Montreal 3--The Phillies did not treat their former pal, Kevin Gross, very well as they improved their record to 6-2 and remained tied with the Cubs.

Mike Schmidt, Von Hayes and Ron Jones all hit third-inning home runs, and the Phillies took a 5-0 lead. With Steve Bedrosian in the bullpen, that usually means victory.

Hayes, who hit only six home runs last season, has four in just eight games this season. Schmidt hit his third of the year and the 545th of his career.

Cincinnati 3, Houston 1--The Dodgers thought that Paul O’Neill didn’t hit against anyone but them. It isn’t true.

O’Neill doubled to left-center field to drive in all of the Cincinnati runs in the ninth inning and give the Reds the victory at Houston.

Rick Rhoden and Larry Andersen held Cincinnati to five hits in eight innings as the Astros took a 1-0 lead. Bullpen ace Dave Smith took over in the ninth.

His luck was poor. Eric Davis singled and went to third on a two-base error by first baseman Glenn Davis. Todd Benzinger was given an intentional pass, and Juan Agosto came in to face O’Neill.

“I was just trying to meet the ball and get a run in,” O’Neill said. “I’m just glad it got through.”

Atlanta 5, San Diego 0--Tom Glavine held the heavy-hitting Padres to five hits at San Diego in his second complete-game victory of the season.

In his other start, he held the Dodgers to four hits and an unearned run. Last season, he led the league in defeats with 17.

Gerald Perry had four of Atlanta’s 12 hits, and Dale Murphy homered with a man aboard in the first inning.