National League Roundup : Homer From Out of Blue: Giants Win

Pitcher Vida Blue closed his eyes, hoped for the best and hit his first home run in seven years Thursday to spark the San Francisco Giants to a 6-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Chicago.

“I went up there, closed my eyes and swung hard,” said Blue, whose home run was the fourth of his career. “You noticed how fast I got into my home run trot.”

Blue gave up just two hits and one unearned run in the second inning to earn his seventh victory against four losses.

“I beg and pleaded with (Manager) Roger Craig to let me start the sixth, but with the conditions like they were today I understood,” Blue said. “I want to get as many innings and hits out of this old body as I can.”

Temperatures in the lower 90s made it a long day for everyone, including loser Ed Lynch (1-1), who gave up the Blue home run.

Blue won his 206th career game, but the Cubs did throw a scare into the Giants in the ninth when they scored three runs and had the tying run at the plate before Scott Garrelts, the fourth Giant pitcher, got Davey Lopes and Ryne Sandberg to end the threat.

Cincinnati 7, Philadelphia 6--Pete Rose’s two-out triple off the glove of right fielder Glenn Wilson scored Wade Rowdon in the bottom of the 11th inning to give the Reds the win over the Phillies at Cincinnati.

The Reds scored three unearned runs off reliever Steve Bedrosian in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extra innings.

Max Venable drew a one-out walk from Tom Gorman (0-1) and was erased as Rowdon forced him at second. Rose, batting right-handed, lashed a line drive into the gap in right-center that glanced off Wilson’s glove as the right fielder fell trying to make the catch.

New York 13, Houston 2--Darryl Strawberry’s three-run double keyed a seven-run rally with two out in the seventh inning as the Mets routed the Astros at Houston, handing Nolan Ryan his first loss since coming off the disabled list.

Ryan (6-7), who had won three straight, allowed just four hits through the first six innings, striking out eight and walking three. He had not lost since May 20.

Winner Bob Ojeda (11-2) allowed four hits and one unearned run over six innings. Roger McDowell and Randy Myers combined to pitch the last three innings for the Mets, who have won 14 of their last 18 games and have outscored their opponents, 41-3, during their current five-game winning streak.

When Ryan struck out Ray Knight in the fourth, it gave him 100 strikeouts for the season. It was his 17th straight season of 100 or more strikeouts.

San Diego 2, Pittsburgh 1--Lance McCullers, who moved into San Diego’s starting rotation only two weeks ago, allowed four hits in seven innings for his first major league victory as a starter as the Padres edged the Pirates at Pittsburgh.

Garry Templeton had three hits, and his one-out double drove in San Diego’s first run in a two-run fourth inning against loser Rick Rhoden (9-6).

McCullers (5-3) walked one and struck out four in his third major league start.

Montreal 4, Atlanta 2--Floyd Youmans pitched a four-hitter and struck out nine over seven innings at Montreal as the Expos handed the Braves their fifth straight defeat.

Youmans (10-5) walked four en route to his sixth straight victory. Jeff Reardon finished the game, recording his 21st save.