National League Notes : Mariano Duncan an Iffy Participant in Game 4

Dodger rookie shortstop Mariano Duncan, still hurting after being spiked by Cardinal rookie Vince Coleman in Game 2, was unable to play Saturday, and his availability is uncertain for Game 4 tonight.

“Right now, I don’t know about Duncan,” said Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda, who started Dave Anderson in Duncan’s place. “He has tonight and most of tomorrow to improve.”

Trainer Bill Buhler said that Duncan has a bruise on the left calf, just below the knee. “He’s better, but not 100% today.”

Anderson was making only his fifth start at short in games the Dodgers have played on artificial surfaces. The AstroTurf, incidentally, was not a factor Saturday. There were no so-called “turf hits,” choppers that take inordinate bounces over the infielders’ heads.

Cardinal Manager Whitey Herzog protested to plate umpire John McSherry in the first inning that pitcher Bob Welch was “quick pitching,” i.e. , he was not coming to a stop during his windup.

“(Orel) Hershiser quick-pitched a couple of times against us in Game 2, and I knew that the first time he (Welch) quick-pitched, I was going to let the umpire know.

“On the next pitch, Welch did stop, and (Vince) Coleman stole second.

“I keep hearing the same old bull, ‘as long as they (pitchers) reverse direction.’ But there’s nothing in the rules about ‘reverse direction.’ ”

Pitcher Danny Cox, who was a no-show at a pregame press conference for Game 3’s pitchers on Thursday in Los Angeles, hid in the office of the Cardinal trainer after Saturday’s game, consenting only to be interviewed by the regular Cardinal beat reporters. Cox apparently does not want to discuss an incident 10 days ago involving his former brother-in-law, whom he punched out after Cox’s sister, Maxine, reportedly was threatened.

In the first inning, Cox loaded the bases with a walk to Anderson, a double by Ken Landreaux and an intentional walk to Pedro Guerrero with one out. But he got Mike Marshall to line to short and retired Mike Scioscia on a little roller to first.

“I hit it off the end of the bat,” said Marshall, who later doubled twice. “He threw me three great sliders on the outside part of the plate. I knew what I was going to get, but I might have been a little anxious.”

Cardinal outfielder Willie McGee, who was 1 for 2 in attempted steals, on Dodger catcher Scioscia:

“I think Scioscia has a very good arm, a great release, and mechanically he’s sound. I’d rate him in the top four in the league, with (Tony) Pena, (Gary) Carter and (Jody) Davis. But if we get a good jump, it’s almost impossible for anybody to throw us out.”

Random observations: Cardinal second baseman Tommy Herr, who homered Saturday, is batting .400 for the first three games, and all of his hits have been for extra bases. The other three hits were doubles. Herr also has walked four times. . . . The Dodgers’ Guerrero already has been walked intentionally four times in three games. Guerrero, who has three singles and a double, has been on base eight times. . . . The Dodger swinging the bat best at the moment may be Landreaux, who singled and doubled Saturday and had hit seven straight line drives before grounding to second for the game’s final out. . . . Saturday’s game, which lasted 3 hours 21 minutes, was just two minutes short of the playoff record. . . . Dodger second baseman Steve Sax, who has handled 19 chances cleanly, has been a standout defensively. . . . Hall of Famer Stan Musial, sitting in the box of Cardinal owner August Busch, drew an ovation for his neat pickup of a foul ball. . . . Dodger owner Peter O’Malley sat behind the Dodger dugout and listened to the game on a transistor radio. . . . All three Dodger relievers who worked Saturday were impressive, but Ken Howell’s effort was probably the most encouraging. Howell, who gave up runs in seven of his last eight regular-season appearances, retired all six batters he faced, striking out two.

Cardinal slugger Jack Clark, on the Cardinal running game: “It’s like a drag race out there. We’ve got drag racers and funny cars, but I’m just a stocker.”