Guerrero Smacks the Winning Homer, Then Leaves Game

Pedro Guerrero slammed a two-run homer, his 21st homer of the season, and then struggled to get around the bases because of lower back spasms Wednesday night to lift the Dodgers to a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Guerrero was helped off the field after tagging home plate with the run that made a loser of Lee Tunnell (0-6) and gave the Dodgers their third straight victory.

The triumph went to starter Jerry Reuss (7-6) who gave up four runs on eight hits and a walk over seven innings. He struck out seven. Ken Howell gave up two hits the rest of the way to earn his eighth save.

The Dodgers took a 2-0 lead in the fourth. Mariano Duncan led off with a single to short and took second when first baseman Jason Thompson mishandled a ball by Ken Landreaux and fell down. Landreaux turned toward second after reaching first and stopped. Umpire Lanny Harris ruled that Landreaux turned toward second, allowing Thompson time to tag him out.

After Guerrero struck out, Greg Brock doubled Duncan home. Terry Whitfield and Mike Scioscia walked to load the bases and Brock scored on Steve Sax’s single.

The Pirates went ahead 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI double by Johnnie Ray and RBI singles by George Hendrick, Marvell Wynne and rookie Sammy Khalifa.

In the top of the fifth, Reuss started with a single but was forced at second. Anderson moved to third on a double by Duncan and scored on a sacrifice fly by Landreaux. Guerrero followed by hitting a 1-0 pitch over the left center field wall.

Newly acquired Enos Cabell appeared as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning.