clarinews@clarinet.com (09/22/89)
ST. LOUIS (UPI) - Sid Fernandez, who pitched a two-hitter and hit his first major league homer in a 6-1 victory over St. Louis Thursday night, said the effort probably was for naught in the New York Mets' title chase. ``We're still 5 1/2 games behind the (Chicago) Cubs and 1 1/2 behind the Cardinals,'' he said. ``And we don't play those teams anymore. That's going to make it tough.'' Fernandez, however, pitched perhaps the best game of his major league career, striking out 13. He didn't walk a batter while facing only two batters over the 27-man minimum. ``He was a one-man show out there today,'' Mets' manager Davey Johnson said. ``When he gets his curve ball over like he did tonight, it's going to be a long night for people. Tonight was the best I've ever seen him throw.'' As well as he pitched, he was equally good in becoming New York's offensive spark. He led off the Mets' four-run third inning with a single, and homered in the ninth to cap the scoring. ``I think the last time I hit a home run was when I played Metro ball 10 years ago,'' he quipped. He finished the night going 3-for-4 and scored twice. ``It was too much `El Sid' tonight,'' Cardinal manager Whitey Herzog said. ``He had 13 strikeouts and he outhit us. He kept the Mets in the race and we're one step further away.'' The loss ended a four-game Cardinal winning streak and dropped St. Louis four games behind NL East-leading Chicago and lowered the Cubs' magic number to six. Fernandez, 12-5, upped his lifetime record against the Cardinals to 8-3 while pitching his fifth complete game of the year. The lefthander, who struck out a club-record 16 earlier this year in a game against Atlanta, fanned seven of nine batters in the second through fourth innings. He opened the Mets' four-run third inning with a single to center off St. Louis starter Rick Horrton, 0-3. After his single in the third, Gregg Jeffries walked and Keith Miller struck out. Howard Johson singled to center to load the bases and Kevin McReynolds' infield single scored Fernandez. Darryl Strawberry then drove in two more with a single to center and Juan Samuel capped the four-run inning with a sacrifice fly. The Cardinals put their only runners on base while scoring their run in the fifth. With one out, McReynolds just missed getting to Pendleton's drive in left center that went for a triple, ending a string of 13 straight batters retired by Fernandez. One out later, Todd Ziele singled home Pendleton. The Cardinals may also have lost centerfielder Willie McGee for the season. The speedster chased down McReynolds' drive to the left-centerfield wall, but re-injured his left hamstring. He dropped the ground and while rolling in pain lost his glove. McReynolds was credited with a triple and he scored Samuel's two-out infield single.