National League Roundup : Keystone of Giants’ Success Becomes Rocky; Dawson, Law Lift Cubs, 5-2

Manager Roger Craig said on national television Saturday that the key to the success of his San Francisco Giants was the defensive play of second baseman Robby Thompson and shortstop Jose Uribe.

Shortly thereafter, the two went onto the turf at Wrigley Field in Chicago and darkened that forecast.

Thompson fumbled a routine grounder with two out in the first inning, and Andre Dawson followed with his ninth home run of the season, sending the Cubs to a 5-2 victory.

Vance Law hit two home runs to back winner Scott Sanderson (9-6), who is coming back from elbow surgery after missing most of last season.

Sanderson gave up five hits in seven innings for his third victory in a row. One of the hits was a windblown fly ball by Candy Maldonado that carried over the fence in left field.

Although it didn’t lead to a run, Uribe blew a play in the second inning. After Jerome Walton doubled in a run to give the Cubs a 3-0 lead, slumping Ryne Sandberg grounded to shortstop.

Walton tried to go to third base and wound up in a rundown. Uribe, instead of covering second base while Thompson was chasing Walton, went to third, joining pitcher Atlee Hammaker. With second unprotected, Walton made it back safely. Mark Grace then grounded into a double play.

Hammaker gave up nine hits and four runs in six innings as the Cubs improved to 23-8 against left-handers.

“They have left- and right-handed hitters and can platoon the way we do,” Craig said. “Evidently, their right-handed batters are better than their left-handers. Hammaker pitched pretty good, but I’ve seen him better. It was only his second start since his injury.”

And it was only the second game back for Dawson since his knee injury flared again. He hit Hammaker’s first pitch, the ball sailing far over the left-field bleachers onto the street.

Montreal 6, Cincinnati 5--When bullpen ace John Franco goes sour, the collapse of the Reds could be nearly complete.

In his previous three seasons, the former Dodger left-hander had 100 saves. This season, he had 23 in 26 opportunities when called upon to protect a 5-1 lead in the ninth inning at Montreal.

Franco had given up only one home run in 45 innings. But Rex Hudler hit a three-run smash, and Damaso Garcia added a two-run shot off Franco as the Reds lost their seventh game in a row and 13th of their last 14.

“I don’t know what to think; this is the first time anything like this has happened to me,” Franco said.

“I stunk it up for the last inning after doing all right for the first two I was in there.”

Franco (2-3) came to the rescue of Ron Robinson after the first two Expos hit safely in the seventh to spoil his shutout.

“I needed this win. That’s why I brought him in,” Red Manager Pete Rose said. “I can’t say he gave up the runs because he was tired. He wasn’t, he had a week off. He just threw fastballs instead of changeups.”

Houston 1-4, Philadelphia 0-3--With the Giants faltering on the road, the Astros are in position to make a move.

By sweeping the doubleheader at Houston, they cut the Giants’ lead in the NL West to 2 1/2 games.

In the opener, Jim Deshaies won for the ninth time in his last 11 decisions when Gerald Young singled home the only run in the second inning.

A three-run home run by Darren Daulton in the sixth inning of the second game gave the Phillies a 3-2 lead. But in the bottom of the inning, Rafael Ramirez hit a two-run home run to put the Astros ahead to stay.

New York 7, Atlanta 5--The Mets wasted a three-run lead in the eighth inning at New York, then came back to win.

Dale Murphy hit a three-run home run for the Braves that made the score 5-5 and deprived Sid Fernandez of his ninth victory.

But in the bottom of the eighth, catcher Phil Lombardi singled, took third on Kevin Elster’s hit-and-run single and scored when Lee Mazzilli bounced a single to right field for his fifth pinch-hit in 25 at-bats this season.

Juan Samuel, who had three of the Mets’ 14 hits, drove in the other run with a grounder, and the Mets won their fifth game in a row.

Murphy’s home run, to center field, was the first given up by Rick Aguilera in 62 innings

St. Louis 5, San Diego 2--Jose Oquendo extended his hitting streak to 20 games, and teammate Tom Brunansky hit his 14th home run of the season for the Cardinals at San Diego.

Ted Power lasted 6 2/3 innings to win for the first time as a starter in almost a year. His other victory for the Cardinals was in relief, also against the Padres.