National League Roundup : Strawberry Hits Another Home Run, Mets Get Another Win

Darryl Strawberry extended his hitting streak to eight games with a home run, his fifth of the season, and had four runs batted in Thursday night as the New York Mets beat the Phillies, 9-3, at Philadelphia.

The victory enabled the Mets to sweep a three-game series from Philadelphia for the first time since 1972.

Rick Aguilera, in earning his first victory, allowed 9 hits in 8 innings while striking out 8 and walking 3. Terry Leach pitched the ninth inning for the Mets.

Philadelphia’s Joe Cowley (0-2), who lasted less than an inning in his first start of the season, made it through one inning plus three batters in his second start, giving up 5 runs and 4 walks. Two of the free passes were with the bases loaded in the first inning, when New York jumped out to a 4-0 lead.

The Mets added five runs in the second as they finished off Cowley. Tom Hume relieved and got Keith Hernandez to fly out before Gary Carter tripled and Strawberry homered. Strawberry has a league-leading 15 RBIs.

“I’m swinging the bat pretty good now,” Strawberry said. “I’ve got good work habits. I’m coming to the park every day ready to play. Everybody on this team is doing the little things that win ball games.”

The game was played in steady, driving rain. It was 47 degrees when the game started, and the wind made it even colder.

“It was terrible, cold and wet, but it was tougher on the Phillies because they are not playing well,” New York Manager Davey Johnson said. “It’s nice to play a team the experts picked to contend with us, and play well against them.”

The Mets have hit home runs in all eight games this season, five short of the Chicago Cubs’ record start in 1954.

Pittsburgh 6, Chicago 0--Andy Van Slyke and Mike LaValliere, acquisitions in the April 1 trade that sent catcher Tony Pena to St. Louis, led the Pirate offense at Chicago as Bob Kipper, a 22-year-old left-hander from nearby Aurora, Ill., limited the Cubs to four hits while pitching his first shutout and complete game in the majors.

Van Slyke had three hits, including a double and a triple, and drove in two runs, while LaValliere had three hits, including a two-run double.

“It (the trade) was a shock at first, but I’m getting used to it,” LaValliere said. “I know I’ll have to perform here the way I did in St. Louis or I’ll be out of a job.

“Kipper had excellent control today. I caught him in his first start. Today, he got everything over and was ahead of the hitters with his off-speed stuff.”

Van Slyke led off the sixth by hitting a pop foul--that shortstop Shawon Dunston dropped for an error. Van Slyke then tripled to spark a four-run inning.

Montreal 4, St. Louis 3--He may not be the next Jeff Reardon, but Randy St. Claire got the job done for the Expos out of the bullpen at St. Louis.

St. Claire, a 26-year-old right-hander, earned the first Montreal save of the season, and the second of his career, by striking out pinch-hitter Jack Clark with two on to end the game.

It was an effort that probably did as much good for the confidence of Manager Buck Rodgers, searching for a replacement for Reardon, traded to Minnesota in the off-season, as it did for St. Claire.

“I’ve got to take a chance,” Rodgers said, explaining why he went to St. Claire in the clutch. “This is the only way I’m going to find out.”

Neal Heaton (1-1), acquired in the trade for Reardon, picked up the victory. He allowed single runs in the first and second innings before retiring 17 straight batters.