National League Roundup : Reds Lose Their Fifth Straight, 8-0

The focus in the National League West has been on the slow start of the defending champion Dodgers. Maybe, the focus should shift to the Cincinnati Reds.

With Jay Tibbs, a Red castoff, pitching a four-hitter Wednesday at Cincinnati, the Montreal Expos trounced the Reds, 8-0. It was Cincinnati’s fifth consecutive loss, ninth in 10 games and seventh in a row at home.

When the Dodgers lost their best hitter, Pedro Guerrero, with an injury just before the season, many experts thought that the Reds, who finished only 5 1/2 games behind the Dodgers last season, had become the team to beat.

After winning their home opener, the Reds have gone steadily downhill. Their 5-12 start is the worst in the majors. Player-Manager Pete Rose started the season on the bench because of a stomach problem, but his return has not made a difference. In fact, Rose, who began the season with 4,024 hits, is still at that figure.

“Right now, I can’t make any more excuses,” Rose, who is 0 for 10, told United Press International. “Everyone in the clubhouse feels the same way I do. I’ve been around a long time, and it’s difficult to put your finger on it.”

Tibbs went to the Expos in the trade that sent Bill Gullickson to the Reds. The Reds thought that Gullickson was the pitcher they needed to win the division. But Gullickson, 14-12 last season, is 0-2. Tibbs, 10-16 last season, is 3-0.

Tim Wallach and Hubie Brooks provided more than enough offense for Tibbs. Wallach hit a home run, the 29th in April for the Expos, and Brooks drove in four runs.

The Reds have scored only five runs (and have been shut out three times) in their five consecutive defeats.

New York 8, Atlanta 1--Dale Murphy made a surprise pinch-hitting appearance at Atlanta and hit a home run to spoil Dwight Gooden’s shutout, but the Braves couldn’t slow the Mets.

Murphy, who needed nine stitches to close a cut on his right hand Tuesday night, hit his fifth home run in the fifth inning and extended his consecutive-games string to 676.

Long before, though, the Mets had built a commanding lead on the way to their 11th consecutive victory.

Darryl Strawberry went 5 for 5, including a home run, as the Mets scored twice in four of the first six innings. With an 8-1 lead, the Mets gave Gooden (4-0) the ninth inning off.

San Diego 5, St. Louis 0--Left-hander Mark Thurmond pitched 6 perfect innings at San Diego, but had to settle for a one-hitter--a bloop single to center by Willie McGee in the seventh.

The Cardinals, who led the league in batting average and runs scored last season, have been shut out in their last two games and five times this season.

Kevin McReynolds and Steve Garvey hit home runs for the Padres.

Houston 1, Philadelphia 0--Glenn Davis hit his fourth home run in the fourth inning at Houston, and it took most of the Astro pitching staff to protect it.

Mike Scott went 6 innings, working out of jams in almost every inning. Frank DiPino, Charles Kerfeld and Dave Smith all appeared in relief. Smith pitched a scoreless ninth to gain the save. In improving his record to 3-2, Scott gave up six hits and walked four.

The Phillies loaded the bases with one out in the second, but Scott struck out Kevin Gross and Milt Thompson.

San Francisco 6, Pittsburgh 5--Chris Brown tied the game with a sacrifice fly, then singled with the bases loaded in the 12th at San Francisco to win the game.

The Pirates took a 5-4 lead in the sixth when Johnny Ray singled in two runs. Ray, who went into the game with a .400 average, has 18 runs batted in.