National League Roundup : Knepper Beats Phillies as ERA Drops to 0.64

Bob Knepper followed the worst season of his career with a tempestuous spring in which he brought the wrath of the women’s movement down on him.

The 33-year-old Houston Astros left-hander, after posting an 8-17 record in 1987 with an earned-run average of 5.27, said he felt that a woman’s place was in the home. He sounded off because a woman was getting consideration as a major league umpire.

Despite the turmoil, Knepper, in his 13th season, is off to a sensational start.

Knepper held the Phillies to six singles Tuesday night at Philadelphia in pitching the Astros to a 4-0 victory. It was his first win in Veterans Stadium in five years and his first shutout in almost two years. Knepper improved his record to 3-0 and lowered his league-best ERA to 0.64.

Knepper struck out 7 and walked 1 in his first complete game.

“There is no explanation,” Manager Hal Lanier of the Astros told the Associated Press. “He just had one of those off years in 1987. He’s an outstanding pitcher so we know he’ll win a lot of games.”

There’s a simple answer, according to Knepper.

“Give credit to the tendinitis in my shoulder,” he said. “It has forced me to stay back and not overthrow. In the first couple of innings I felt strong. Later, I just had to stay back.”

Among those who found Knepper tough was Von Hayes. But everyone’s been difficult for the Phillies’ first baseman lately. He went 0 for 3 and is 0 for 20.

New York 8, Atlanta 0--The way David Cone had been pitching in relief, it was not surprising that he would make the most of an opportunity as a starter.

As a replacement for ailing Rick Aguilera, Cone (3-0) pitched an 8-hitter at New York for his first shutout. It was the sixth complete-game shutout this season for the Mets, one more than all last season.

Darryl Strawberry hit a 3-run home run, and Kevin Elster hit a 2-run blast. Strawberry’s homer was his 8th.

Montreal 4, Cincinnati 3--Although he filed an official protest of his 30-day suspension, Manager Pete Rose was absent again at Cincinnati.

Rose, recovering from knee surgery, merely missed another defeat.

After clutch relief pitching by Joe Hesketh in the 11th inning with the bases loaded and none out saved them, the Expos won it in the 12th when Tim Wallach singled up the middle to end an 0-for-9 slump and drive in the winning run.

With two out in the 12th and a man on first, Hubie Brooks hit a pop-fly double to right that was his 5th hit of the game. Wallach hit into an inning-ending double play in the 10th.

Rose, who pushed umpire Dave Pallone in the chest Saturday night, will meet Friday with league president Bart Giamatti.

Chicago 13, San Diego 5--Andre Dawson homered twice, doubled and drove in 5 runs at San Diego to pace a 15-hit outburst by the Cubs.

Calvin Schiraldi, trying to go the route for the first time, couldn’t make it even with a big lead. He gave up 4 runs on 6 hits and was replaced in the eighth by Mike Bielecki.

Dawson, who led the league with 49 home runs last year, took over the league lead with 9. It was the 27th time Dawson hit more than one home run in a game.

San Francisco 2, St. Louis 0--Joel Youngblood’s 8th-inning run-scoring single broke a scoreless tie and three Giants pitchers teamed on an 8-hitter against the Cardinals at San Francisco.

Kelly Downs, Atlee Hammaker and Craig Lefferts pitched for the Giants. Hammaker (2-0) pitched two perfect innings for the victory. Lefferts worked the ninth for his first save.