Larry Gura was signed, sealed and delivered to the Cubs Tuesday afternoon. Tuesday night, the former Kansas City Royals left-hander was re-introduced to the National League as the starter in a wild 13-11 loss to the Reds in Riverfront Stadium.
He was given a 6-0 lead to work with after three innings, but he was shelled for five runs on six hits in the fourth and gave way to reliever Warren Brusstar.
”This is a big night for me, no doubt,” Gura said before the game.
”I`ve been keeping myself in pretty good shape, throwing every day and running. My biggest concern will be not having any balls hit back at me, because my reflexes may not be what they used to.”
Gura, who was released by the Royals last week, cleared waivers Tuesday morning, allowing the Cubs to sign him for the standard waiver fee while saddling the Royals with the final two years of his guaranteed contract. The Royals owe Gura $650,000 for this year, $675,000 for 1986 and a $50,000 buyout clause for 1987.
”I got a crash course on the Reds` hitters this afternoon,” said Gura, 37, who came up with the Cubs in 1970 under Leo Durocher. ”I think I know most of the hitters, although there are some new names and faces. I remember striking out Pete Rose once.”
Cubs` manager Jim Frey and pitching coach Billy Connors had Gura in Kansas City in 1980 when the Royals won the American League pennant. Gura last pitched on May 3.
”I would be happy to get five or six innings out of Gura tonight,” Frey said before the game. ”You have to remember that the last time I saw this guy pitch competitively was one of the best pitchers in the American League.
”The only question Billy and I have now is whether he is physically sound or if he had arm problems. And everything we`ve been able to learn, he hasn`t had any physical problems. They made a decision in Kansas City to go with the young pitchers. But Gura had one of the best won and loss records in baseball over a five or six-year period.”
The Cubs grabbed a 4-0 lead in the first inning as they teed off on Reds` starter Jay Tibbs. Bobby Dernier led off with a single up the middle, extending his hitting streak to 10 games. Dernier stole second and advanced to third on catcher Alan Knicely`s high throw into center field. Davey Lopes hit a sacrifce fly to center to score Dernier, who was slightly stunned when he slid head-first into Knicely`s shinguards.
Keith Moreland continued his hot streak by lining a double into the left- field corner to score Sandberg. Then Ron Cey blasted his ninth home run of the season over the left-field wall. It was Cey`s fourth homer in three games and his 33d career homer against the Reds.
The Cubs increased their lead to 6-0 in the third inning as they chased Mr. Tibbs to the shower. Lopes led off with a walk, and Moreland singled to left. Leon Durham drove in Lopes with a line single to right-center. Reds player-manager Pete Rose then called in reliever Frank Pastore. He gave up a sacrifice fly by Jody Davis that score Moreland for a 6-0 bulge.
The Reds made some noise in the fourth inning, drawing to within 6-5 and knocking out Gura. The Reds rapped three straight singles off the bats of Dave Concepcion, Dave Parker and Alan Knicely. Knicely`s single to left scored Concepcion to make the score 6-1.
Tony Perez unloaded on Gura with a three-run homer to left, his fourth of the season and 375th of his career, to make it 6-4.
After Gura hit Cesar Cedeno with a pitch, Ron Oester lined a double to left–a line drive that bounced in front of Lopes and bounced high off his glove to score Cedeno.
Frey then brought in Warren Brusstar, who did a marvelous job of keeping the Reds from doing further damage.
Wayne Krenchicki dumped a fly ball into shallow right that Moreland made a diving attempt to catch. The ball dropped out of his glove for a double, but Ron Oester was only able to advance to third. Brusstar then got tough by striking out pinch-hitter Duane Walker for the first out. He intentionally walked Gary Redus to load the bases before striking out Dave Concepcion and retiring Parker on a fly out to left.
The Cubs added a run in the fifth off reliever Tom Hume. Durham doubled to right, and Jody Davis knocked him in with a base hit to left.
A two-out rally in the sixth inning restored a seemingly comfortable lead for the Cubs as they scored three runs.
Lopes singled to left and Moreland to center, giving Moreland three hits for the night. Cey hit an AstroTurf triple–a ball that dropped between second baseman Oester and right-fielder Parker in shallow right. The ball bounced high past Parker allowing the Penguin to waddle to third.
Durham`s ensuing three-base hit was more authoritative, banging high off the wall in right-center, knocking in Cey for a 10-5 lead.
