Dodgers Defeat Cardinals : Belcher Helps Hershiser Win His 6th Straight

The Dodgers are accustomed to seeing pitcher Orel Hershiser go storming, not stumbling, into the late innings of almost all of his starts. If anyone in the bullpen is spotted before then, he usually is leaning back in his chair in repose.

But Tuesday night against the St. Louis Cardinals, the action in the bullpen was nearly matched by the action on the field. The Dodger offense continually tried to break open the game, but Hershiser faltered just enough to keep it close--and keep Dodger relievers working in the bullpen.

After seven innings of getting by without his best stuff, Hershiser turned over a three-run lead to reliever Tim Belcher, who shut down the Cardinals to preserve a 6-3 Dodger victory over the Cardinals and Hershiser’s sixth straight win before a Dodger Stadium crowd of 32,495.

Hershiser seemingly has reached an echelon in which his outings are judged by degrees of dominance. In that case, Tuesday night’s effort was not one of his strongest.

“He pitched a great ballgame without great stuff,� said catcher Mike Scioscia, who had three hits and one run batted in. “Orel didn’t have his best sinker or curve or the greatest location. But he can still win and, besides, that’s why we have a bullpen.�

And, who’s to quibble?

Hershiser, a certain bet to be named to the All-Star team later this week, improved his record to 13-3 despite several shaky moments. He gave up consecutive bases-empty home runs to Tom Brunansky and Terry Pendleton in the fourth inning, and a single run on three hits in the sixth.

When Hershiser reached the dugout after escaping a seventh-inning Cardinal threat, Manager Tom Lasorda asked him if he wanted to continue. He declined, citing fatigue and faith in the bullpen.

“In the last two innings, I had a lot of hitters ahead in the count, but no bullets left to strike them out,� Hershiser said. “If you can’t do that, you’re not very dominating.�

Still, Hershiser has 13 wins in 17 starts with one remaining before the break. Only the Chicago Cubs’ Greg Maddux, with 14, has more victories.

“I’m kind of inebriated about the whole thing,� Hershiser said. “When I’ve pitched above my capabilities, we win. When I pitch at my capabilities, we win. Sometimes, even when I pitch below my capabilities, we win.

“The ballclub has really picked me up.�

A little less than Hershiser’s best was good enough on this night. The Dodgers scored five runs off Cardinal starter Danny Cox, three in the first inning on run-scoring doubles by John Shelby and Scioscia and two in the fifth on Mike Marshall’s towering home run to left field. Then, in something of a rarity, Cardinal shortstop Ozzie Smith made errors on consecutive plays in the seventh, allowing the Dodgers to push across a sixth run.

Belcher, normally a starter, earned his fourth save and second in as many nights. In 2 innings, Belcher allowed 2 hits and had 1 strikeout.

Lasorda said that once reliever Jay Howell returns from the disabled list, Belcher will return to the rotation.

“He’s a starter,� Lasorda said. “That’s where we want him. But it won’t be until Jay is right. I’m not saying it will be today or tomorrow.�

Belcher said he simply wants to help the team any way possible.

“I said all along I’d prefer to start, but I never said I was reluctant to relieve,� Belcher said. “The most important thing is to be on the team and help us win. If I have to catch in the bullpen, I will.�

Hershiser and other Dodger starters might be sad to see Belcher return to the rotation, if only because he has been such an effective reliever. But Belcher is not alone. The Dodger bullpen already has 25 saves. Last season, it totaled only 32.

“Tim’s developing into a great reliever,� Scioscia said. “He’s one more part of our bullpen. I think it’s the best bullpen in the league.�

Added Hershiser: “The bullpen is so strong that they can start now and pitch a shutout or something.�

Hershiser also praised the Dodger offense for giving him a 3-0 lead in the first inning against Cox, making his second start after coming off the disabled list with recurring elbow soreness.

Cox, who walked Kirk Gibson and hit Marshall after there were two outs, then gave up a double to Shelby that scored both runners. Scioscia’s double to right-center field scored Shelby.

Hershiser had a shutout going until there were two out in the fourth. Brunansky lined a 2-and-2 pitch over the 385-foot sign in left-center to make it 3-1.

Even before the Cardinals could properly congratulate Brunansky on his team-high 12th home run, Pendleton deposited Hershiser’s next pitch deep into the right-field seats. The back-to-back home runs quickly slashed the once-comfortable Dodger lead to one run heading into the middle innings.

After the Dodgers’ first-inning uprising, Cox pitched three scoreless innings. But, just as Hershiser was hurt by home runs in the fourth, Cox gave up one to Marshall in the fifth.

With two out, Gibson singled to right. Marshall then launched a shot high into the darkness. Vince Coleman had plenty of time to put his back against the wall and wait for the ball’s descent. But the ball fell just beyond Coleman’s grasp and just over the wall to give Hershiser another three-run lead.

“I didn’t have the command of my pitches, especially in the later innings,� Hershiser said. “I had a little trouble with the location, even though I felt very strong out there.�

Dodger Notes

Cardinal Manager Whitey Herzog told the Orange County Register Monday night that Dodger left fielder Kirk Gibson is among the players he favors for an All-Star berth. Herzog and Bart Giamatti, the National League president, will choose the reserves and pitching staff. Results of the fan balloting for the starting positions will be announced today. The pitchers and reserves will be announced Thursday. . . ..Jay Howell (fractured rib) is eligible to come off the disabled list today. Howell threw in the bullpen before Tuesday night’s game and said he feels ready to play. “Oh, yeah, I’m ready,� Howell said. “I’d activate me. I let it all out today for about 15 minutes. They haven’t told me yet what’s going the happen.�

Pedro Guerrero definitely will not return before the All-Star break. And, according to trainer Bill Buhler, Guerrero will not start taking batting practice until after next week’s All-Star game, which means he probably won’t be ready to play until late July. Tuesday morning, Guerrero underwent a magnetic resonance imaging scan, which provides a detailed view of the body’s interior. “It didn’t show anything different than before,� Buhler said. Guerrero has been diagnosed as having a spur in the neck, which pinches a nerve and causes pain. . . . Alfredo Griffin took batting practice, left-handed, for the first time Tuesday night. But he will not be ready to return, according to Griffin and trainers, until after the All-Star break. Griffin, however, was encouraged by his progress. “I’m a happy man today,� Griffin said. “I feel a part of the team. It felt good. No pain.� But Griffin said that there still is tenderness on the inside of his right hand, limiting the extension on his wrist when throwing a ball hard. “I have trouble putting something on my throws,� Griffin said.

If Jay Howell comes off the disabled list today, utility player Mickey Hatcher might replace him. Hatcher said his strained groin muscle is not improving. “I’m hurting the team,� Hatcher said. “It’s not fair to the team and to Tommy (Lasorda) to only play with 22 healthy guys. Tommy has to make some moves that he ordinarily wouldn’t make because I’m not available.�