Garner’s 2 Homers Help Astros Spoil Giant Home Opener

Phil Garner drove in Houston’s first four runs with a pair of homers and Glenn Davis hit a three-run homer as the Astros beat the San Francisco Giants, 8-3, Tuesday in the Giants’ home opener.

There were six homers in the game, including a two-run shot in the fifth inning which earned Will Clark, the Giants’ rookie first baseman, a standing ovation from the Candlestick Park crowd of 46,638. Clark had singled off Bob Knepper, 2-0, in his first two at-bats before the home fans.

The Giants’ Vida Blue, seeking his 200th major league pitching victory, trailed, 3-0, before retiring a batter. Bill Doran and Billy Hatcher opened the game with singles and Garner followed with a three-run homer.

Garner hit his second homer of the season with one out in the third. One out later, Kevin Bass made it 5-0 with his first home run.

Clark hit his second homer of the season after Rob Thompson’s leadoff walk in the Giant fifth, and Bob Brenly homered with one out in the inning to cut the Houston lead to 5-3.

Davis of the Astros hit his third homer of 1986 off San Francisco reliever Mark Davis in the seventh. Doran, who walked to open the inning, and Garner, who singled with one out, were on base.

In winning his second decision of the season, Knepper was touched for nine hits and three runs through five innings. Charlie Kerfeld pitched the last four innings for his first major-league save. He allowed three hits, walked one and struck out six.

Montreal 4, Chicago 3--Even though things didn’t quite work out the way he wanted, Mitch Webster wasn’t complaining.

“Their infield was in and their outfield was in, so I was looking to hit the ball hard and put it in play,” Webster said.

Instead, Webster drew an 11th-inning, bases-loaded walk to force home Dan Schatzeder and give the Expos a victory in their home opener against the Cubs.

“If I would got something I was looking for, I would have hacked at it, but the pitches weren’t close,” Webster said.

Schatzeder was pinch-hitting for Jeff Reardon when he led off the 11th with a walk against loser Lee Smith, 0-2. He moved to second on a passed ball by catcher Jody Davis and advanced to third when Hubie Brooks reached base on an error.

Tim Wallach was then intentionally walked to load the bases before Webster took a 3-2 pitch outside to force in the winning run.

“It was a unique experience,” said Schatzeder, a pitcher, of his pinch -hitting appearance. “I guess with the 24-man rosters, I’ll be doing that from time to time this year.”

Reardon, Montreal’s fourth pitcher, worked two innings to win his first decision of the season before a crowd of 30,105.

The Expos, who had trailed 3-0, tied the game in the seventh inning when Wallach cracked a three-run homer off the Cubs starter Dennis Eckersley.

Jason Thompson started the comeback with a double, moved to third when Brooks singled to center. Wallach then drove a 1-1 pitch over the left field wall for his first home run of the year.

Chicago took the lead in the fourth inning after Durham drew a two-out walk off Montreal starter Jay Tibbs.

Davis doubled to knock in Durham and then came around when Ron Cey followed with a double off Wallach’s glove at third base.

Chicago made it 3-0 in the seventh inning against reliever Andy McGaffigan. Shawon Dunston led off with an infield single, was sacrificed to second by Eckersley and scored on Ryne Sandberg’s double.