National League Roundup : Robinson Slows Astros With a One-Hitter, 5-0

An infield hit by Terry Puhl in the first inning Wednesday night at Houston beat Don Robinson out of a no-hitter.

Robinson, a star out of the bullpen most of his career, was inserted into the starting rotation when a series of misfortunes left San Francisco Manager Roger Craig without enough starters.

The 31-year-old right-hander faced only 28 batters, struck out 8 and didn’t walk any as the Giants cooled off the Houston Astros, 5-0.

Robinson picked Puhl off first base, then retired 13 batters in a row. He struck out Alex Trevino, who reached base as the third strike eluded the catcher. It was called a wild pitch. Robinson finished with a flourish, retiring the last nine.

Before he made his first start, Robinson made 39 appearances in relief and had 6 saves. With Dave Dravecky and Mike LaCoss expected back soon, Craig will have to decide what to do about Robinson.

Robinson had not pitched a complete game in six years, and his last previous shutout was on Oct. 5, 1980.

“I could put the ball anywhere I wanted to,” Robinson told the Associated Press. “I’ve had better stuff in games and given up a lot of hits. The key for me tonight was I had command of all my pitches and I was ahead of the hitters.

“If I had my choice, I’d stay as a starter. But I think I’ll be going back to the bullpen. Anyhow, I know I can go nine.”

The Astros were hoping to couple a win over the Giants with another Dodger loss to slip into first place in the West. Instead, they are 1 1/2 games behind, and the Giants are 3 1/2 back.

“Robinson had a good fastball and he seemed to get stronger as the game went on,” Astro second baseman Bill Doran said.

Montreal 5, Pittsburgh 4--Dennis Martinez is a hot pitcher and a hot hitter, too.

Martinez (14-7) won his seventh game in a row and hit a tiebreaking, two-run double at Pittsburgh as the Expos moved within 5 1/2 games of first place in the East.

Martinez gave up 9 hits in 8 innings, and Tim Burke got the last two outs. The double, the 13th hit of the season for Martinez, tied him with Dwight Gooden for the most hits among pitchers.

“I’m in a groove now,” he said.

The Pirates and the Expos were concerned that they would take each other out of the race, but with the Mets losing three in a row, it hasn’t happened.

Chicago 6, New York 5--It just seems that the Mets don’t want to nail down the title in the East. Every time they are in position to turn the division race into a runaway, they hit the skids.

It was supposed to be a return to day ball at Wrigley Field, but a nearly three-hour rain delay made it a good thing that they had installed lights.

Greg Maddux (16-6), who had not won in five starts since the All-Star break, doubled in a run and scored another in a five-run fourth inning that ended his slump. In the sixth, there was a scare when Kevin McReynolds hit a line smash that hit Maddux near the elbow. X-rays indicated there was no break.

It was the third loss in a row for the Mets, who led Pittsburgh by 7 Saturday but now are 5 ahead of the Pirates and 5 1/2 in front of Montreal.

Vance Law doubled in two runs in the inning that gave the Cubs a 6-0 bulge, and Mitch Webster hit a two-run home run. Rafael Palmeiro singled in the eighth to extend his hitting streak to 19 games.

St. Louis 1, Philadelphia 0--The Cardinals, who’ve been in danger of becoming the first team to win a pennant one season and finish last the next, are suddenly playing good baseball in Philadelphia.

After bursting loose with seven runs in an inning Monday night, they came back with brilliant pitching to move 1 1/2 games in front of the Phillies.

John Tudor gave up three hits in eight innings, and Todd Worrell pitched a perfect ninth. The run came in the first inning when Ozzie Smith doubled and Terry Pendleton singled him home.

San Diego 5, Atlanta 4--Benito Santiago hit his third home run in two games in the 16th inning at Atlanta to lead the Padres to a marathon victory.

The Padres needed another run to clinch it. Dale Murphy, who earlier hit a three-run home run, hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 16th, but when the game ended, the Braves’ bid for the tying run was left stranded at third.