NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : It takes a Day, but Cubs Win Home Opener, 2-1

Of those who believe that night baseball should never have been allowed in Chicago’s Wrigley Field, many claim it was divine intervention that prevented the Cubs from having their first night season opener.

It was cold and windy and it rained Monday night, so there was no night home opener.

There wasn’t much improvement Tuesday afternoon, but the Philadelphia Phillies and the Cubs managed to open the season despite 36-degree weather and winds of 26 m.p.h.

Fortunately for the pitchers, the wind was blowing in. Pinch-hitter Marvell Wynne delivered a single with two out in the eighth inning to break a 1-1 tie and give the Cubs a 2-1 victory.

Wynne’s single drove in Mark Grace from third base. Just moments before, rookie center fielder Sil Campusano threw out Ryne Sandberg trying to score from second on Luis Salazar’s single.

Sandberg, who went the last 90 games in 1989 without an error, extended the string to a major-league record tying 91 games.

“Pinch-hitting is one of the toughest jobs in baseball,” Wynne said. “But you have to be ready. Between innings, I kept going into the clubhouse to keep warm.”

Sandberg opened the bottom of the eighth with a walk and went to second on a wild pitch. Lloyd McLendon struck out and Grace was walked intentionally. Salazar singled to center and Campusano’s strong throw nailed Sandberg, with Grace taking third. Grace scored easily on the hit by Wynne.

The Phillies put the tying run on second with one out in the ninth, but reliever Mitch Williams worked out of trouble. He struck out Dickie Thon, then walked Randy Ready. Charlie Hayes flied out to end the game.

St. Louis 4, Montreal 2--Bryn Smith wasn’t too nice to his former teammates in this game at St. Louis.

Smith, who signed with the Cardinals as a free agent last winter, singled in the winning run in the fourth inning and lasted five innings to win it.

Smith, who had only four hits in 62 at-bats with the Expos last season, drove in Ozzie Smith from third to give the Cardinals a 3-2 lead.

Cincinnati 3, Houston 2--It is getting to be a habit Charley Kerfeld would like to break.

In both games this season, he has given up the winning hit. In this game at Houston, he gave up a single to Ron Oester in the eighth inning that scored Todd Benzinger.

Kerfeld gave up a bases-loaded triple to Barry Larkin in the 11th inning of Monday night’s opener.