National League Roundup : Cardinals Defeat Cubs in a Game of Errors, Wild Pitches, 11-10

In a game that produced 21 runs, 26 hits, 6 errors and 3 wild pitches, the outcome was probably determined about 20 feet from first base in foul territory.

It was there that right fielder Andy Van Slyke, who had hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning, made a sliding catch of Keith Moreland’s foul ball in the bottom of the ninth Friday to preserve the St. Louis Cardinals’ 11-10 victory over the Cubs at Chicago.

Van Slyke’s catch came after Davey Lopes had hit a two-run homer to bring the Cubs within one run and Ryne Sandberg, representing the tying run, had doubled. Bob Forsch replaced reliever Jeff Lahti and got Moreland to foul out.

Joaquin Andujar (12-1) became the major leagues’ first 12-game winner but had to leave with one out in the sixth when his shoulder tightened. “Nothing serious,” Cardinal Manager Whitey Herzog said.

The Cardinals scored their final run on a wild pick-off throw in the top of the ninth. Jack Clark drew a two-out walk in he ninth off George Frazier, and Van Slyke walked. Frazier, trying to pick off Van Slyke, threw wildly, allowing Clark to score.

Chicago committed five errors and blew a 3-0 lead when the Cardinals scored three times in the fifth. St. Louis added three more in the sixth and four in the seventh--Van Slyke’s homer accounting for three.

In the second inning, Van Slyke threw a ball into the dugout for an error that allowed the Cubs’ first run. “It’s the biggest roller-coaster game I’ve ever been in, at least this year, he said.”

Last year, the Cubs beat St. Louis, 12-11, in a similar game.

Friday’s victory was the sixth in the last eight games for the surging Cardinals, who climbed within three games of the first-place Cubs. It marked the first time this season that Chicago has lost three straight games.

San Francisco 5, San Diego 4--David Green’s one-out home run off Luis DeLeon in the 11th inning lifted the Giants to victory at San Francisco.

Padre starter Andy Hawkins, looking for his 12th victory without a loss, had entered the bottom of the ninth with a 4-3 lead but left the game after yielding a leadoff single to Bob Brenly.

Rich Gossage relieved and after retiring Green, walked Chris Brown and pinch-hitter Scot Thompson to load the bases. Pinch-hitter Gary Rajsich’s slow fielder’s-choice grounder to second scored Brenly.

The Padres had given Hawkins a 4-3 lead in the top of the ninth on Graig Nettles’ seventh homer of the year, a solo shot.

Pittsburgh 3, Philadelphia 2--Hard-luck Pirate pitcher Jose DeLeon’s problems may be ending. DeLeon, hampered all season by wildness and a lack of offensive support, checked Philadelphia on three hits for seven innings at Pittsburgh, and the Pirates rallied for a pair of seventh-inning runs to pick up only their second victory in the last 10 games.

Bill Madlock hit a tie-breaking single, and Johnny Ray and Sixto Lezcano belted solo home runs as DeLeon won for just the third time in his last 20 decisions, despite what many National League hitters say is one of the most dazzling array of pitches in the league.

“All he needed to do was forget about his record and forget about the tough games he’s lost,” Pirate Manager Chuck Tanner said of the right-handed DeLeon, who struck out 11. “Jose was afraid he was going to go back down (to the minors), and I sat him down and told him he wasn’t going anywhere.”

Montreal 5, New York 4--Dan Driessen had two hits and drove in three runs, including the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth at Montreal. Driessen hit a 3-2 pitch off reliever Jesse Orosco, the fourth New York pitcher, for a single to score Tim Raines from third with the winning run.

Atlanta 6, Cincinnati 4--The Braves scored three runs in the eighth inning to win at home. Ken Oberkfell, who led off the inning with a single to right off Mario Soto (8-5), scored from first on a throwing error by Nick Esasky in the eighth to give the Braves a 4-3 lead.

Dale Murphy reached third when Esasky fielded what appeared to be a double-play grounder by Murphy and overthrew second.

Bob Horner, who said he was only looking for a fly ball to score Murphy with an insurance run, hit the ball over the center-field fence for his seventh homer of the year, his third since moving from third base to first base Monday.

Atlanta’s Bruce Sutter (3-1) yielded a run in the ninth.

Cincinnati Manager Pete Rose did not play.