National League Roundup : A Tough Act Gets a Little Tougher as Ojeda and Mets Defeat Reds, 2-1

The New York Mets have found the perfect pitcher to follow Dwight Gooden in the rotation.

After facing Gooden’s blazing fastball, hitters just might have trouble adjusting to Bob Ojeda’s changeups.

Ojeda, in another impressive outing, held the slumping Cincinnati Reds to two hits in seven innings Saturday at New York, and the Mets gained a 2-1 victory, their fifth in a row over the Reds. Four of them have been by one run.

As suspended Manager Pete Rose watched from the stands, Keith Hernandez drove in the winning run in the fifth with his second double. Hernandez has driven in 17 runs in the last 10 games.

Roger McDowell allowed one hit in the last two innings as the Mets continued their string of well-pitched games. They have allowed only 4 runs in 39 innings.

This was the first time that Ojeda (3-1), who missed most of last season because of a career-threatening elbow injury, followed Gooden in the rotation.

“I think we’ve hit on something,” Manager Davey Johnson said. “The batters go from 95 m.p.h heat to 60 m.p.h. changeups. They have trouble adjusting.”

Tommy Helms, acting manager while Rose sits out a 30-day suspension, has a different theory about the Reds’ difficulties. They had 11 hits off Gooden Friday night and lost in the 10th.

“I think maybe our guys are trying to do too much,” he said. “I like managing, but it would be nice to win once in a while, especially, a one-run game.

“We’re pressing. We can’t get anybody on base, we can’t get anything going.

“Ojeda has done fine every time I’ve seen him. He pitches backward sometimes. He gets a 3-and-0 count and then throws a changeup.”

Ojeda, who won only three games last season, allowed only three baserunners, striking out five and walking only one. He departed after throwing 112 pitches.

“I knew I had to have my stuff because it was going to be a low-scoring game,” Ojeda said. “I saw Robby pitch last week.”

Robby is Ron Robinson, who came within a strike of a perfect game in his previous outing. He lost his no-hitter early this time as leadoff batter Len Dykstra singled. Robinson gave up two runs, only one earned, in five innings as his record fell to 2-3.

San Francisco 2, Chicago 1--All hitters aren’t always fooled by the changeup.

Jamie Moyer threw two changeups past Giant shortstop Jose Uribe in the seventh inning at Chicago. But Uribe was ready for a third and hit it for his first home run of the year to give Rick Reuschel (5-1) the victory.

It was the Giants’ first home run in seven games. A slumping offense is the reason the defending champions of the National League West are below .500 (14-15).

“He threw me two changeups, and I was way out in front of them,” Uribe said. “I looked at Jose Morales (Giant hitting coach) and he was saying, ‘Stay back. Stay back.’ I did and I hit it hard.”

Reuschel, who will be 39 next week, gave up 6 hits and 1 run in 7 innings. Craig Lefferts bailed him out of a jam in the eighth when he induced Rafael Palmeiro to hit into a double play with runners on first and third.

San Diego 3, Pittsburgh 2--Relief pitcher Jim Gott gave up two singles and two balks in the eighth inning at Pittsburgh and allowed the Padres to end a five-game losing streak.

Gott came into a 2-2 game and gave up a single to rookie Roberto Alomar. Two balks later, Tony Gwynn singled to left, breaking the tie.

“We’re very much aware of the (balk) ruling, and it’s the letter of the law,” Gott said. “(Pirate Manager) Jim Leyland has reminded me of it. Everyone has reminded me. It’s all my fault.”

Montreal 4, Houston 3--Tim Raines hit an opposite-field double in the ninth inning at Montreal to score Herm Winningham with the winning run.

Winningham opened the inning with a double off Jeff Heathcock (0-2).

“I was expecting to pull the pitch,” Raines said. “But he threw it out over the plate, and I went with it.”

It was a costly victory. Expo pitcher Pascual Perez broke a bone in the middle finger of his pitching hand while batting against Nolan Ryan and will be out at least six weeks.

Atlanta 6, Philadelphia 5--After blowing a five-run lead in the eighth inning at Atlanta, the Braves put together three consecutive singles to score the winning run in the bottom of the ninth.

Zane Smith went into the eighth with a seven-hitter and a 5-0 lead. He was gone after two walks and two singles. Bruce Sutter gave up a walk and two singles, and it was a tie game.

In the ninth, with one out, Andres Thomas, Dale Murphy and Albert Hall banged out singles to beat Kent Tekulve.

It was only the 7th win in 26 games for the Braves.