Dodgers Get Help From Bullpen but Little Relief, 3-2

NEW YORK —  You may be able to see a Dodger loss nearly every day, but Wednesday night’s 3-2 setback against the New York Mets was worth special notation simply for a highly uncommon eighth inning that seemed endless.

It was surprising enough that the Mets needed three pitchers in the top of the eighth to hold off a Dodger rally that fell a run short.

Then, in the bottom of the inning, the Dodgers set two of baseball’s more obscure records by using five pitchers against five hitters. The most unusual part was that the Mets did not score a run or even get a hit in the inning.

Assorted statistical heads in the Shea Stadium press box pored over the record books, certain that some type of mark had been attained.

Sure enough, the Dodgers and Mets set a major league record for most pitchers used in an inning, eight. The Dodgers tied the National League record for using five pitchers in an inning. That has happened 23 times in NL history, and the Dodgers last did it in 1927.

The ’27 Dodgers finished in sixth place, 28 1/2 games behind the first-place Pittsburgh Pirates. The ’87 Dodgers are in fifth place in the West, 11 1/2 games behind the San Francisco Giants, after concluding a 13-game trip with only five wins.

Afterward, Dodger players weren’t sure if this was a source of pride or shame. Most were able to find it a pleasant diversion from dealing with loss number 71 in game number 127.

“That’s probably the weirdest inning I’ve ever seen,” reliever Matt Young said.

Added a sarcastic Rick Honeycutt, also the holder of the Los Angeles Dodger record with 11 straight losses: “Yeah, I was part of history tonight. I’m setting all kinds of records this season. I bet there’s never been five pitchers work an inning with the other team not scoring.”

Young emerged from the inning feeling sore after a recurring left elbow injury forced his departure. Honeycutt felt a little embarrassed because he was used only to issue an intentional walk. Brian Holton felt relief because he got Keith Hernandez to ground into a bases-loaded double play to finally end the inning.

And Alejandro Pena, the only Dodger reliever not used, felt neglected. “But I was warming up,” Pena said. “I was ready.”

Young’s injury, though not believed serious, could keep him out for two weeks. That is how long it took for him to recover after hurting the ligament on June 7 against the Cincinnati Reds. Young will be examined by Dr. Frank Jobe today to determined the nature and extent of the soreness.

“The pain wasn’t near as bad as what I had in Cincinnati,” Young said. “But I felt if I kept throwing, it would get worse. It’s been sore ever since Cincinnati, but tonight it was a different kind of sore. Sharper. I didn’t want to risk it.”

The chances of Young or any Dodger reliever other than Tim Leary being used seemed remote at the outset of the eighth.

The Dodgers trailed, 3-1, but they rallied against Met starter Ron Darling, who got the victory. A throwing error by Hernandez with Randy Myers pitching enabled the Dodgers to score Pedro Guerrero for their second run and move John Shelby to third. But on came reliever Roger McDowell, who retired pinch-hitter Alex Trevino for the third out. McDowell worked an uneventful ninth for his 20th save.

Leary, who relieved loser Bob Welch (three runs in six innings) in the seventh, began the parade of pitchers in the eighth. He immediately got in trouble when Rafael Santana’s ground ball went between third baseman Mickey Hatcher’s legs for a two-base error. Leary retired pinch-hitter Mookie Wilson, but Manager Tom Lasorda pulled the right-handed Leary because four left-handed batters were due up.

Lasorda brought in the left-handed Honeycutt, and Met Manager Davey Johnson brought up right-handed hitting Kevin McReynolds. Honeycutt issued an intentional walk to McReynolds, then was replaced by right-hander Tim Crews when right-handed pinch-hitter Tim Teufel was announced. Honeycutt tipped his hat to the crowd as he walked off.

“Those were four of my better pitches recently,” a self-deprecating Honeycutt said. “I think with the off-day tomorrow, I’ll be able to come back on Friday.”

The runners advanced to third and second when catcher Trevino could not handle a low pitch by Crews. Crews then walked Teufel, loading the bases. Pitching coach Ron Perranoski took the ball from Crews and waved in Young, a left-hander, to face Hernandez, a left-hander who hit a two-run home run off Welch in the sixth.

On Young’s first pitch, a ball, he said he felt a sharp pain in his left elbow. He said he felt it again on his second pitch, a strike. Then, Young threw a fastball that brushed back Hernandez and waved to the dugout for trainer Charlie Strasser.

The Dodgers intended to use Young for the remainder of the inning, so Holton came in cold. He was given extra time to warm up and forced Hernandez to ground into an inning-ending double play on a 3-and-2 count.

“We had the whole thing set up (without going five deep),” Lasorda said of the numerous pitching changes. “But we didn’t figure on was, number one, that wild pitch or whatever it was, and, number two, we didn’t figure Teufel would walk.”

Added Perranoski, who received plenty of exercise walking to the mound: “I had the same ball in my hand twice (after replacing pitchers). You don’t see that all the time.”

Dodger Notes

Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda was in the middle of his usual time-killing pregame chat with Dodger beat writers here Wednesday when in walked A. Bartlett Giamatti, National League president. Lasorda and Giamatti had a spirited exchange about scuffing baseballs and corking bats and Don Sutton’s latest adventure. Giamatti, who said he does not believe any major league player is using an illegal bat, out-quipped Lasorda with this comment: “We have cut open everything in the game but a person.” Lasorda, in turn, presented Giamatti with this solution for the ball-scuffing episodes: “You don’t let the pitchers rub the (new) balls when you throw one to him. If they do rub it, you ask for the ball back before they pitch it. If there is a scuff mark, then you’ve got him.” Giamatti responded to most of Lasorda’s proposals with head nods and smiles. Lasorda, who told Giamatti that he could guarantee that no Dodger pitcher scuffs the ball, said the 10-day suspensions assessed for pitchers who are caught are not severe enough. Again, Giamatti smiled and shook his head. “I’ll be sure to tell the player’s association that tomorrow, Tommy,” he cracked. Lasorda also told about the time he tried to protect Sutton and his sandpaper-in-the-Band-Aid trick from umpire Doug Harvey years ago in St. Louis. Apparently, it was all right for the two to talk about Sutton, since he is now pitching in the American League. . . . Shortstop Dave Anderson (strained hamstring), eligible to come off the disabled list today, probably will not be activated until Sept. 1, when the roster expands to 40 players. That way, the Dodgers will not have to option a player to Albuquerque. Also, Dodger trainers report that Anderson’s hamstring still has not fully healed. Anderson has been jogging slowly in the outfield, according to trainers, but has yet to sprint. . . . Three other Dodgers--Mike Marshall (bruised left ankle), Jeff Hamilton (sprained ankle) and Brad Wellman (cornea laceration)--are eligible to come off the disabled list Sept. 1. Hamilton’s ankle will be examined by Dr. Frank Jobe today. . . . Tracy Woodson, who sprained his left wrist Tuesday night, also will be examined by Jobe and have X-rays taken today. Woodson was held out of the starting lineup Wednesday. . . . Steve Sax broke an 0-for-19 slump with three hits Wednesday. . . . Keith Hernandez’s opposite-field home run off Bob Welch in the sixth was the first home run allowed by a Dodger in 12 games. . . . The Dodgers are off today and open a nine-game home stand Friday night against the Montreal Expos.