National League Roundup : Cubs’ Win Streak Stopped by Pirates, 8-6

The Chicago Cubs haven’t been beaten often lately, but when they do lose it’s not without a struggle.

Gary Redus hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning Saturday and the Pirates held on for an 8-6 victory to end the Cubs’ six-game winning streak.

The Pirates have been systematically eliminating the other contenders in the National League East, but it was only the second time in eight tries they have beaten the Cubs at Pittsburgh this season.

The last Chicago defeat was Sept. 8 when the Cubs, after blowing a 7-1 lead, almost pulled out a win.

Despite the loss, the Cubs still lead the NL East by 5 1/2 games and have only 14 games left.

Saturday, the Pirates held a 8-4 lead in the ninth when they brought in relief ace Bill Landrum.

The Cubs jumped on him for four hits, scored twice and had the tying runs on base when Lloyd McLendon ended the game with a drive to center that Andy Van Slyke caught about six feet from the fence.

Although he gave up seven hits and four runs in five innings, John Smiley (12-7) was the winner. In his previous start, Smiley beat the New York Mets.

It has been a disappointing season for the Pirates, who had hoped to be battling for the division title. But they have enjoyed the role of spoilers lately. Earlier they beat New York two out of three games and swept three from St. Louis.

Cub Manager Don Zimmer said the game’s tone was set in Pittsburgh’s three-run first, when starter Greg Maddux’s two-base throwing error on Jay Bell’s bunt led to R.J. Reynolds’ two-run home run. Maddux (17-12) gave up nine hits and five runs in 4 1/3 innings.

“That’s why you practice fielding bunts on the first day of spring training, because you see so many of them fouled up,” Zimmer said. “It was a bad day for him (Maddux) all the way after that.”

The Pirates have won only seven of their last 20 games against the Cubs.

“The Cubs have a lot of weapons and they’re hungry,” Pirate Manager Jim Leyland said. “We’re just trying to play well the rest of the way.”

San Diego-San Francisco postponed--It was only the 22nd game postponed at San Francisco in 31 years and the first September rainout at Candlestick Park since 1962.

The teams, in the showdown series in the West, will play a doubleheader today. The Giants, who hold a five-game lead over the Padres, will send Scott Garrelts and Rick Reuschel, their two best starters, against Calvin Schiraldi and Bruce Hurst.

The Padres will be without infielder Bip Roberts, who was taken to a San Francisco hospital Friday night after suffering spasms in his rib cage. He is undergoing tests.

Montreal 10, New York 1--With the Mets’ chances of winning the East getting smaller with each day, criticism of Manager Dave Johnson grows.

Maybe Johnson isn’t at fault for the Mets failing to live up to expectations. Perhaps it’s impossible for him to win the East with this group.

Even Sid Fernandez had a bad outing in this game at Montreal. Fernandez, the club’s most consistent pitcher, gave up seven runs in only 2 2/3 innings. A two-run homer by Andres Galarraga highlighted a four-run first inning.

In the middle of a pennant race, Johnson is having to spend more time pacifying brooding players than trying to win games.

Before the game he met with catcher Gary Carter, who is upset because he doesn’t play and because Johnson does not talk to him. Also upset was Dave Magadan because Keith Hernandez has started at first base for three consecutive games.

“What’s most important in a pennant race is winning games,” Johnson said. “That should come before anything else. It should come before ego, personalities, anything. I don’t want to single out Magadan. It goes for everybody.”

Spike Owen had three hits and four RBIs for the Expos. Pascual Perez (9-13) gave up four hits in seven innings.

Houston 3, Cincinnati 1--The Astros haven’t yet given hope of winning the West. With Jim Deshaies (13-9) pitching a three-hitter at Houston, the Astros won their fourth in a row. They trail San Francisco by 5 1/2 games.

The Astros scored all their runs in the fourth inning. Kevin Bass doubled in one run, a walk forced in the go-ahead run and a groundout scored the other.

St.Louis-Philadelphia postponed--Rain saved the slumping Cardinals at Philadelphia. With the Phillies leading, 3-0, in the fourth inning, the game was called. The teams will play a doubleheader today.