Valenzuela Receives a Gift--Six Runs and a Victory

The Dodgers showed Fernando Valenzuela something more than appreciation Saturday afternoon. They showed that if he pitches long enough, they just might score a few runs for him, too.

They not only had to convince Valenzuela of that in their 10-inning 6-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates Saturday before 14,093 at Three Rivers Stadium, they had to convince themselves, as well. A two-run single by Mike Scioscia in the first, a long home run by Mike Marshall in the third, a home run by Pedro Guerrero in the seventh and Guerrero’s game-winning triple in the 10th may have been enough friendly persuasion.

Valenzuela, meanwhile, took a little time adjusting to his teammates’ shocking show of support. He spotted Pittsburgh five runs in five innings, which is four more than he’d allowed the rest of the National League in a month. But he then limited the Pirates to three singles the rest of the way and singlehandedly defused an attempted double steal to even his record at 3-3.

Asked if he could remember the last time the Dodgers had scored as many as six runs for him, Valenzuela nodded earnestly. “They gave me five in San Diego and one in San Francisco. That comes to six,” he said through interpreter Jaime Jarrin.

Guerrero did a little arithmetic, too, noted the Dodgers had scored just eight runs in Valenzuela’s first five starts, and decided it was time to alter the equation.

“I talked to the guys today and I said, ‘It’s all up here, it’s all in our minds,’ ” Guerrero said. “I said, ‘All we’ve got to do is go out there, relax, and act like somebody else is pitching. Just swing the bat, swing it hard, and maybe we’ll hit it.’ ”

With that, Guerrero giggled, for his opposite-field triple off Pirate reliever John Candelaria was almost that accidental. Guerrero said he barely saw the ball in the late-afternoon shadows when he drove a drive over the head of Pirate right fielder George Hendrick with Bill Russell aboard first on a pinch-hit single.

Actually, the ball went over Hendrick’s head twice--on the way out, and then after it caromed off the wall. And while Hendrick set out in belated pursuit, Russell circled the bases with the deciding run, another example of baseball’s capacity for instant retribution.

Russell was supposed to have the day off after making three errors the night before in the Dodgers’ 16-2 loss here, their worst defeat in 18 seasons. To put that loss in proper historical perspective, in 1967 Russell was a 19-year-old outfielder in Dubuque, Iowa, and Tom Lasorda was managing a rookie league team in Ogden, Utah.

“It’s another day, just like I told you guys last night,” Russell said.

While it also was a day that Valenzuela struggled more than he’d had in the entire month of April, Lasorda once again displayed unblinking faith in his 24-year-old left-hander by letting him bat for himself in the ninth with the score tied, 5-5. Naturally, he singled, too, for his second hit of the day.

“I would have done the same thing as Tommy,” Marshall said. “You have to play the odds, and we were due to win a game for Fernando. It wasn’t like they (the Pirates) were hitting the ball that hard.”

Which is true, with the exception of Bill Madlock’s two-run homer in the third, Madlock’s first home run since July 14 of last season.

“He didn’t really get his arms extended, either,” catcher Scioscia said. “But Madlock has such a quick swing, he hit the ball well.”

Of the Pirates’ other nine hits, four were infield jobs and one was a bloop. Valenzuela also had eight strikeouts and three walks.

“We didn’t play well again behind him,” said Marshall, whose error at first base led to the Pirates’ first run in the second, “but at least we battled back and scored some runs for him.

“I think it was important for us to win a 6-5 game for him, so he sees he doesn’t have to always win, 1-0.”

Marshall’s contribution was a 430-foot blast off Pirate rookie Mike Bielecki, a ball as hard hit as any in his career.

“That’s all I’ve got,” Marshall said. “It even surprised me . . . I ought to chop it up into hits.”

Bielecki, who came into the game with 12 walks in 14 innings, walked four more Dodgers and was gone by the end of the fourth. Newly acquired Al Holland retired eight straight Dodgers until Guerrero’s homer with two out in the seventh, the Dodgers’ 20th of the season and 17th with no one on base.

Whatever happened to the Dodgers’ favorite weapon, the three-run home run?

“When I go up there with men on base, I don’t see too many good pitches to hit out,” Guerrero said.

As the game went on, the Pirates saw few hitable pitches from Valenzuela, which may be why Pittsburgh Manager Chuck Tanner called for a double steal with Johnny Ray on third, Madlock on first and two out in the seventh.

Madlock set out for second before Valenzuela released the ball to the plate, then stopped just before reaching the bag. When Valenzuela took a couple of steps toward Madlock, Ray broke for the plate, but Valenzuela wheeled and threw him out.

“We were hoping he’d give the ball up,” said Madlock, no doubt mindful that the Dodgers came into the game leading the league in errors. “What impressed me is the throw he made from an awkward position.”

So ended the Pirates’ last real scoring opportunity.

“Valenzuela was stronger in the 10th inning,” Madlock said, “than he was earlier in the game.”

That, of course, is why Valenzuela has come to be known as Senor Stopper.

“He’s a fighter,” Scioscia said, “but there’s something special about Fernando that goes beyond that.

“I think he’s shown over his career that he’s capable of making the pitch when he has to. This is why there’s an aura of confidence that is contagious to us. We can sense it because he’s done it in the past.”

And for a change, the Dodgers reciprocated.

Dodger Notes Steve Sax came off the disabled list and reached base his first three times up with an infield single, an opposite-field triple--complete with head-first slide--and a walk. “As far as running flat out, I was very happy,” said Sax, who had strained a muscle in his leg just above his right ankle. “I was kind of surprised. I didn’t think it would hold up that good.” . . . Outfielder Al Oliver sat for the fourth straight game, with Terry Whitfield starting in left. Ken Landreaux, who had sat out the last two games, singled in a run in the fourth. . . . Mike Marshall, on being shifted back and forth from the outfield to first base, where he made an error that led to the Pirates’ first run Saturday: “I don’t enjoy it. It’s not easy to do. But if Tommy feels it will help the team, I’ll do it.” Marshall was at first because Greg Brock’s right elbow was bothering him again after he’d made a couple of throws in Friday’s game. On whether the Dodgers would ever leave him at first, Marshall said: “If (Franklin) Stubbs weren’t around, yeah. But I think Al (Campanis) still loves him, doesn’t he? When I look at the situation, no matter what, I’m going back to the outfield, either next season or during this season. And after Stubbs, they’ll probably find somebody else, too.” . . . Manager Tom Lasorda said the reason he didn’t start Mariano Duncan at short (he used Mike Ramsey instead) was because the rookie’s injured hamstring is not quite 100%. “I’m not going to send him out there if there’s any feeling (in the hamstring) whatsoever,” Lasorda said. “With an injury like that, it’s better going two or three days beyond what he needs.” . . . Lasorda said he has not yet decided who will pitch for the Dodgers Tuesday at Chicago. Tom Brennan had been scheduled to start before he was shelled in relief Friday. Lasorda said he may come back with Rick Honeycutt on three days’ rest, or go with either Brennan or Bobby Castillo.