Guerrero’s 2 Homers and Reuss’ Pitching Win for Dodgers, 10-2

The Dodgers got hitting, pitching and fielding Friday night. And they could no more explain those startling developments than when they weren’t getting them.

Why is it that Jerry Reuss seems to own the Astros? No idea. Is it strictly coincidence that Pedro Guerrero is hitting again since being switched to the outfield? Who knows. Finally, why are the Dodgers finally putting it together? They can’t tell you.

For whatever reason, the Dodgers beat the Astros, 10-2, getting a complete game from their pitcher, a pair of home runs from their one-time third baseman and a couple of nice plays from their new third baseman.

But who knows why. Greg Brock, who celebrated his 28th birthday with home run No. 9 and two more singles, figured it was simply a matter of the Dodgers finally returning to form. “On paper, we should score some runs,” he explained. “It was just a matter of getting them off the paper.”

The man getting them off the paper was Pedro Guerrero, briefly a third baseman. Friday night, before 21,247 fans in the Astrodome, the newly appointed outfielder hit two home runs. So far, he has hit in 9 of 10 games since being returned to the outfield, with 7 home runs and 13 RBIs.

Guerrero, with a wink, tells you it’s all because of the move from dreaded third base. “Now I can work on my hitting,” he said. “I don’t have to work on my ground balls (fielding).” On the other hand, Guerrero said his streak really started when coach Manny Mota gave him a special seminar in the batting cage several weeks ago, before the switch was made.

Manager Tom Lasorda, meanwhile, figures it could be coincidence, admittedly one of tremendous proportions. “All I know is, he’s hitting better, but who knows why,” Lasorda allowed. Of course, a reporter later suggested, there was one way to find out for sure. Put Guerrero back at third. Lasorda laughed at that, meaning we’ll probably never know.

Lasorda was no more helpful explaining Reuss’ effectiveness against the Astros, his former team. As a Dodger, Reuss has a 15-5 record against the Astros. His lifetime record against them going into the game was 20-10 with a 2.26 ERA.

Why is Reuss so effective against Houston? Lasorda: “I dunno. I used to pitch like that, too, except I did well in every ball park--Rochester, Syracuse. I just couldn’t pitch well in night games.”

Reuss (4-5) was no more helpful. “I can’t explain it,” he said. “I left Houston in 1973 so there aren’t many players left from when I was there. So you can’t say I have some kind of dominance over the hitters, because they’ve changed.”

You might as well try to explain his three RBIs off two singles. You can’t.

Rather, Reuss said it was all a matter of everything coming together at one time and that the time usually comes during a trip to Houston. “The last few times I’ve pitched here,” he said, “I’ve gotten defense and run production. I can’t explain it, but I will explain it because there are teams where I have the opposite effect.”

So the mystery team rolls along, having won its second game in five days. The Dodgers bounced just over the .500 level with the win, in one of their only games not actually threatened by rain. Until the Dodgers got to the weather-proof Astrodome, they had seen two rain-outs and one rain-delayed game.

The Dodgers didn’t start right away, waiting until the fourth inning to attack Joe Niekro (3-7). They got three runs on three singles, including Reuss’ two-run single through the box.

The next inning, the Dodgers powered up with Guerrero and Brock hitting consecutive home runs. That’s the second time on this trip they have done so. Of the Dodgers’ 47 home runs, 37 have been with the bases empty. But don’t blame Brock; he hits after Guerrero.

The Astros, on the other hand, seemed to be solving the Reuss jinx. They scored a run in each of the first two innings, one a result of a botched play on Niekro’s sacrifice bunt in the second inning. Brock charged the bunt so hard he nearly collided with catcher Mike Scioscia, who was trying to make the play. Scioscia’s throw was a little off the mark.

That was the only Dodger error in a game that included some real nice plays by third baseman Dave Anderson. Anderson is barely hitting his weight, but hardly any ball gets by him. In the fourth inning, he ran down a grounder on the line and staggered to his feet to make the force-out at second.

If the Dodgers were finally fielding cleanly, the Astros were not, especially in the final inning. A three-run inning was keyed by right fielder Glenn Davis’ bad pickup on Anderson’s single, on which two runs scored.

Except for the fact that it was an opponent who made a glaring error, the moment was important because it led to a Dodger season-high run output.

But who knows why.

Dodger Notes

According to rule 1024A, Pedro Guerrero is still in the running to equal the Dodger record of three consecutive home runs today. His streak of two is still alive even though he walked in his last at-bat. . . . Guerrero has hit six home runs in his last seven games. The Dodgers have 12 on this trip, five games old. . . . Astro Dickie Thon made his first appearance since May 17 Friday night. He had been on the disabled list with blurred vision. . . . Reuss, on his two-run single: “It was just slow enough to score some runs.” . . . It was only Reuss’ second complete game this year. . . . Today’s matchup: The Dodgers’ Orel Hershiser (5-1) vs. Bob Knepper (6-2).