NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Rijo Pitches and Hits Reds to a 6-2 Victory

Recently, hard-throwing right-hander Jose Rijo has spent almost as much time on the disabled list as he has on the playing roster. When he’s feeling fit, he has proved to be an effective pitcher.

Since coming off the disabled list a couple of weeks ago, Rijo, a seven-year veteran at 25, has become the much-needed stopper forthe slumping Cincinnati Reds. He has helped with his bat as well as his arm.

Rijo pitched a five-hitter, struck out six and had two hits Sunday at Cincinnati to lead the Reds to a 6-2 victory that prevented the San Diego Padres from recording a four-game sweep.

With San Francisco losing to the Dodgers, the Reds, with only their third win in the last 14 games, increased their lead in the National League West to 4 1/2 games.

Rijo, who came off the disabled list July 21 after recovering from a shoulder problem, has two of the three victories. He also won on July 21 when the Reds’ lead was 10 games.

He is 3-1 since coming off the disabled list and also has six hits in 12 at-bats. Like most good-hitting pitchers, he would rather talk about his hitting, and is trying to persuade Manager Lou Piniella to use him as a pinch-hitter. He had a bunt single and a double.

But he may be back on the disabled list again. After throwing 134 pitches for his second complete game, he complained of discomfort in his shoulder again.

“The whole game it bothered me,” Rijo said. “I didn’t think I was going to make it in the beginning. As the game went along, I felt better.”

Although both runs were earned, Rijo easily could have had a shutout. The Padres, trailing, 1-0, rallied in the fourth. Left fielder Billy Hatcher threw out Garry Templeton trying to score from second on Jack Clark’s single, leaving the Padres with runners on second and third with two out. But Hatcher misjudged Joe Carter’s fly ball and two runs scored as Carter got credit for a double.

In the bottom of the fourth, rookie first baseman Hal Morris hit a two-run homer, his first homer at Riverfront Stadium.

Slugger Eric Davis, who was hitless in his previous 12 at-bats, had two hits and scored three runs.

St. Louis 8, New York 3--John Tudor isn’t just fooling National League hitters, he’s also fooling himself.

After holding the Mets without an earned run in eight-plus innings at St. Louis, Tudor, who pitched only 14 innings with the Dodgers last season, improved to 11-3.

“I kind of keep wondering when the fairy dust is going to wear off,” said Tudor, who can no longer throw an 80 m.p.h. fastball. “I haven’t figured out how I’m getting hitters out and I hope they don’t figure it out until after I make 10 or 11 more starts.”

In winning his third in a row, Tudor, who has pitched into the eighth inning in each game without giving up a run, restricted the Mets to five hits and no runs through eight innings. But errors by right fielder Milt Thompson and center fielder Willie McGee helped the Mets score three unearned runs in the ninth.

But the Cardinals had already built a big lead. Tudor had a double and a run scored, Ozzie Smith had four hits and McGee had two.

The second loss in a row to the last-place Cardinals kept the Mets from regaining sole possession of first in the East.

Philadelphia 8, Pittsburgh 6--Von Hayes is only a shadow of himself at night, but in daylight he’s a productive hitter.

Hayes, batting a disappointing .263 this season, hit a two-run homer to break a 5-5 tie in the sixth inning at Philadelphia and raise his average in day games to .324 (22 for 68).

Although Dale Murphy had only one hit in three at-bats in his second game with the Phillies, Hayes credits the former Braves slugger with helping him.

“When a pitcher gets behind me (in the count) now,” Hayes said, “he knows he has to throw me a good pitch because Murph is up next.”

The loss may have cost the Pirates more than just a chance to regain first place. Center fielder Andy Van Slyke twisted his left ankle in the third inning. His foot was put in a cast after X-rays were inconclusive.

Houston 6, Atlanta 2--Although he pitched only five innings at Houston, Danny Darwin improved to 5-0 since becoming a starter July 1.

Darwin (7-1) gave up seven hits and both runs and his ERA as a starter went up to 1.30.

Chicago 3, Montreal 1--Mark Grace doubled in the tying run in the sixth inning at Chicago and scored the go-ahead run on Andre Dawson’s triple as the Cubs handed the Expos their fifth loss in a row.

Greg Maddux (9-9) pitched a five-hitter to win his fifth consecutive game.