Andre Dawson`s ”career year” took on another dimension Tuesday night when he slugged his 32d home run of the season.
The 11th-inning drive gave the Cubs a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in front of 8,744 fans at Three Rivers Stadium. It was the Cubs` first victory of the year here in five games.
”I wanted to make sure I wasn`t cheated with my swing,” said Dawson, who clubbed an 0-1 pitch. ”I got a pitch I could handle. I was just concentrating on hitting the ball hard. I wasn`t thinking home run.”
Dawson matched his career high for homers, established in 1983, when he took a fastball from reliever Brett Gideon (1-2) deep over the wall in right- center leading off the 11th. It was his 93d run batted in of the season and his 13th game-winning hit. Since April 22, Dawson is on an RBI per game pace
–88 RBIs in 88 games.
”Dawson is something else. It all depends on how the manager uses him,” laughed Cubs manager Gene Michael. ”He`s so unassuming. There aren`t too many players who are so unassuming as he is.”
Cub pitchers were coming and going before Tuesday night`s victory.
Struggling rookie right-hander Greg Maddux was sent to Triple-A Iowa and reliever Ron Davis was placed on waivers for the purpose of issuing him his unconditional release. Left-hander Mike Mason and reliever Jay Baller were recalled from Iowa to fill the roster spots.
Mason earned the victory with two innings of scoreless relief.
”That`s the way to break the new guy in,” said Mason (3-1), who also earned a victory in his first appearance with the Cubs after being traded from Texas on May 17. ”My regular day to throw was Wednesday. I told them that as long as they gave me a little time to get loose, I could pitch. My arm is a lot stronger than it was when I first came over here.”
Scott Sanderson, making his first start since June 14 after being relegated to the bullpen, was impressive over 5 1/3 innings for the Cubs.
”We all have bosses, and they are going to tell you when to work,” said Sanderson, who regained his starting status because Bob Tewksbury (0-3) has been ineffective. ”I`m happy that I`m getting the chance to start again, and I`m planning to do the best I can.”
Sanderson was relieved by left-hander Frank DiPino with a man on base and the score tied 1-1 in the sixth. DiPino gave up an RBI double to Mike LaValliere on a hit-and-run grounder past the spot vacated by shortstop Paul Noce. The ball rolled all the way to the wall in left-center to give the Pirates a 2-1 lead.
The Cubs tied it 2-2 in the eighth on a two-out single by Leon Durham. Pirates starter Mike Dunne, who gave up two runs on seven hits in 7 2/3 innings, issued two-out singles to David Martinez and Ryne Sandberg before Durham hit a sharp single up the middle.
Sanderson gave up seven hits, walked one intentionally and struck out five.
He had made nine relief appearances before Tuesday`s start.
”I don`t know if working out of the bullpen helped me physically getting stronger or not,” said Sanderson. ”But I`m back pitching. I like pitching, period.
”Other than my last outing in relief (July 31 against the Phillies, when he allowed three runs in two innings and took the loss), I thought I did a good job. But that last outing kind of left a sour taste in my mouth. I wasn`t too happy about that.”
Mason was rushed into service in the 10th as the Cubs` fourth pitcher of the night. Lee Smith pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth.
”The players are teasing Smitty, telling him he`s the new setup man,”
said Michael.
”I think I`m going to put Mason in Maddux`s (starting) spot. I`d like to have Sanderson in the bullpen if I thought I had a guy to start who was better. We gave Bob Tewksbury three shots to start there, and he didn`t show that he was better than Scotty.”
Michael said Davis knew the ax was going to fall sooner or later.
”I think Ron was relieved,” said Michael. ”He hasn`t felt like a part of the ballclub. He`s been in the mop-up role most of the time. That wasn`t always a fair test for him. But I did use him sometimes in spots when we needed to get people out, and he didn`t do a good job.”
Maddux, 21, fell to 6-10 following Monday night`s 6-4 loss to the Pirates.
”I talked to him about the things he needs to work on,” said Michael.
”He got out of synch right after his 1-0 win (over Montreal on July 1).”
Rafael Palmeiro gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead in the fifth with his sixth home run of the year. His six home runs have come in 80 at-bats, or one every 13.3 at-bats. Dawson`s homer pace this season is one every 12.7 at-bats.
The Pirates tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth but left the bases loaded.
LaValliere led off with a line drive double off the glove of a leaping Dawson in right. Al Pedrique struck out but catcher Jody Davis threw wildly to second on a pickoff attempt, allowing LaValliere to advance to third.
Dunne, who was 1 for 27 coming into the game, delivered a single up the middle to score LaValliere.
After a double by Barry Bonds and an intentional walk to Johnny Ray, Sanderson struck out Sid Bream to end the inning.
