Dodgers Win on Duncan’s Homer : Rookie Replaces a Reinjured Sax and Beats Astros, 5-3

The Dodgers’ Second Base Saga took yet another intriguing twist Monday night, with Steve Sax making like Wally Pipp and Mariano Duncan making the most of every opportunity.

Sax was finally able to make his first start of the 1985 season, insisting that the leg injury he incurred during the Freeway Series had healed and all was fine. But that prognosis proved a bit premature.

Less than one inning into his comeback, Sax was back in the Dodger clubhouse, receiving treatment on the leg. And in his place, Duncan continued to enhance his bid at second, stealing a base to set up the Dodgers’ first run and then hitting his first major-league home run to pace the Dodgers to a 5-3 victory before 26,541 fans at Dodger Stadium.

With the score tied, 3-3, in the seventh inning, Duncan sent a 3-2 pitch by Joe Niekro into the seats beyond the right-field fence to provide the margin relief pitcher Carlos Diaz (2-0) needed for the win.

The Dodgers added another run in the eighth on an RBI bunt single by Bill Russell. Ken Howell came on to pitch two scoreless innings to earn his second save of the season.

Sax’s return as the Dodgers’ starting second baseman was halted in a hurry--after just three outs and two pitches.

Niekro’s second pitch to Sax in the bottom of the first inning was an inside fastball that forced Sax to jump back and away from the plate. Sax had maintained that his injured right ankle was now 100%, but it wasn’t 100% capable of dealing with such a quick movement.

Stepping out of the batter’s box, Sax came up limping. He immediately knew that he had aggravated the injury.

Slamming his bat to the ground in disgust, Sax returned to the dugout--and Duncan returned as Sax’s replacement.

Sax had the ankle examined by Dodger team doctor Frank Jobe, who said the injury would have to be reviewed on a day-to-day basis.

Duncan inherited Sax’s 1-1 count and worked Niekro for a walk. He then worked his way to third base, stealing second and advancing to third on Houston catcher Mark Bailey’s passed ball.

A sacrifice fly by Pedro Guerrero scored Duncan, giving the Dodgers a lead for only the second time in their first homestand of 1985.

It didn’t last long. The Astros tied the game in the second inning and assumed a 3-1 lead in the third.

Three singles by Jose Cruz, Harry Spilman and Bailey produced the Astros’ first run. And Houston had a chance for more, with the bases loaded and one out in the second inning.

But Niekro grounded into a double-play, hitting a bouncer to Guerrero at third. Guerrero threw home to force Spilman and catcher Mike Scioscia fired to first to complete the double play.

Strategy backfired on Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda in the third inning. With two outs and Houston’s Terry Puhl on second, Lasorda decided to have the streaking Cruz (four hits in five at bats) intentionally walked.

That brought up Jerry Mumphrey, who promptly delivered a line drive to left field--Al Oliver territory. Oliver dove in vain for the ball, which skipped past him all the way to the fence.

By the time Oliver could retrieve the ball and relay it back to the infield, Mumphrey had a triple and the Astros had a 3-1 lead.

Oliver struck again in the sixth inning, committing his second error in as many games, but it didn’t cost the Dodgers anything except a few anxious moments.

With Bailey on first base and two out, Oliver bobbled a single to left by Niekro, enabling Bailey to sprint into third. But reliever Carlos Diaz pitched out of the threat, striking out Dickie Thon to end the inning.

The Dodgers, continuing to struggle at the plate, came back to tie with what have become staples of their attack in April: a passed ball and a sacrifice fly.

Bailey’s second passed ball of the night enabled Mike Marshall to score one run in the fourth inning after he, Scioscia and Bill Russell had singled to load the bases.

Marshall also scored the tying run in the sixth inning when he walked, advanced to third on Scioscia’s single to left and tagged up on Sid Bream’s sacrifice fly to right.

Dodger Notes

Although it didn’t last long, the old double-play combination of Steve Sax and Bill Russell was reunited in the Dodgers’ starting lineup for the first time this season. Despite the impressive start of rookie Mariano Duncan, Manager Tom Lasorda says the second base position belongs to Sax--health willing. “Sax is our second baseman,” Lasorda said. “We brought up Duncan only because of the fact we needed him.” . . . Russell made his first start of the season, replacing Dave Anderson, who was given the night off. Anderson is hitting .158 overall, .143 against right-handers. . . . Bob Welch will miss his second turn in the starting rotation tonight because of a sprained ligament in his right elbow, but he is scheduled to throw batting practice prior to the game. Tom Brennan (0-0) will make his first National League start in place of Welch, opposing the Astros’ Bob Knepper (0-0).