Thank the Shining Star

On an evening that found them dismally tied for the cellar position in the National League West the Los Angeles Dodgers nonetheless found reason to thank their stars, or at least one bright and shining star. Pitching superbly against the first-place Houston Astros, Fernando Valenzuela became the season’s first 20-game winner and the Dodgers’ first in nine years. He did so by completing his 19th game--itself a remarkable feat--while limiting the Astros to two hits. But for the charity of the official scorer it could easily have been a one-hitter.

If there were true justice in the world, the duly celebrated 20th victory would have come two or even three weeks earlier. What delayed it was the ineptitude of a team that has run up a positively stupefying record for losing games by a single run. There are some things that this year’s Dodgers excel at, including errors, hitting into double plays, leaving men on base and removing any fear of unemployment among orthopedic surgeons. There are other things, like supporting their pitchers, at which they haven’t looked quite so impressive.

Valenzuela, bless him, has simply ignored what has gone on around him, never missing his turn in the rotation, hitting well, time and again proving that he has not only talent but real class. At this stage Dodger fans can do little more than look forward to next season. If the other 23 guys play the game even half as well as Fernando, the 1987 team might just be a winner.