Roomes’ Two-Run Homer Gives Reds a 10-8 Victory

Rolando Roomes owes a debt of gratitude to Tony Perez, the Cincinnati Reds’ batting coach.

Roomes’ two-run homer in the 12th inning Thursday off Calvin Schiraldi (1-2) gave Cincinnati a 10-8 triumph over the Chicago Cubs, the 14th time in their 26 victories the Reds have come from behind. It was their fourth straight victory.

“Tony taught me to keep my right arm up in order to hit breaking balls and it has really paid off because I’ve learned to be patient,” said Roomes, who is batting .333 with two homers and five RBIs since being called up from the minors May 1.

“I was getting into trouble after being recalled from Nashville because I was dropping my right arm, missing pitches and simply being overanxious. I was not relaxing and I was not keeping my head down.”

The victory went to Rob Dibble (4-1), who decided to appeal his two-day suspension for a bat-throwing incident. Dibble struck out five in two hitless innings after John Franco blew a save opportunity for the first time in 15 opportunities in the ninth, allowing a double to Gary Varsho that drove in an unearned run.

“I knew our bullpen was down to five pitchers (the Reds used all five) and I figured I better come back now and take my chances on an off-day if I lose my appeal from a suspension,” said Dibble, who was suspended for two days by the Reds and two more by the National League. He is appealing the league suspension.

Roomes was 3-for-5 with three RBIs against the team that traded him Dec. 9 to Cincinnati for Lloyd McClendon. He doubled in a run in the seventh to give the Reds an 8-7 lead after they trailed 7-2 going to the fifth inning.

“I wasn’t disappointed because the Cubs needed a catcher at the time and they felt they could trade me away,” Roomes said. “But I feel great and I know the Cubs are happy with McClendon.”

Roomes said he “thought I won the game in the seventh . . . but then the Cubs got that unearned run off Franco.”

Of his game-winning homer, he said, “I was trying to put the ball in play. He (Schiraldi) had good stuff today and, really, I’m looking to make contact.”

“I know I had good stuff, but I made that one mistake,” said Schiraldi, who pitched three scoreless innings before Roomes connected. “But I don’t feel that I had a bad day. Roomes is a good hitter. It was no fluke.”

The Cubs tied the game 8-8 in the ninth when Domingo Ramos reached second on third baseman Chris Sabo’s throwing error and moved to third on Franco’s wild pickoff throw. Pinch runner Curtis Wilkerson scored on Gary Varsho’s double. Franco has saved 54 games in 57 chances over the last two years.

Roomes’ two-out double off Jeff Pico scored Paul O’Neill from first in the seventh to give the Reds an 8-7 lead. O’Neill singled after Todd Benzinger, who had four RBIs, tied the score with his third homer of the year.

Benzinger drove in a run with a sacrifice fly during a two-run first inning against Paul Kilgus and his two-run double keyed a four-run sixth which brought the Reds within 7-6.

After the Reds went ahead 2-0, Chicago scored four unearned runs in the bottom of the first after an error by second baseman Lenny Harris. Vance Law’s two-out, two-run single was the big hit against Rick Mahler.

Law singled home another run in the third after Mark Grace and Damon Berryhill hit consecutive doubles. Law has hit safely in nine of his last 10 game, raising his average 67 points to .238.

The Cubs increased their lead to 7-2 on Grace’s RBI single in the fourth before the Reds began their comeback with a four-run rally in the sixth. After Benzinger’s two-run double, RBI singles by Luis Quinones against reliever Pat Perry and Sabo off Pico made the score 7-6.