Dodger Notebook : Strong Four Innings for Honeycutt

Rick Honeycutt became the first Dodger to pitch more than three innings in an exhibition game this spring and looked impressive Wednesday in his second start. He went four strong innings as Los Angeles defeated Montreal, 4-3.

In his first start against Houston last Saturday, Honeycutt shut out the Astros on one hit in three innings. Wednesday, after giving up a run on a walk and a double in the first inning, he pitched three scoreless innings, limiting the Expos to three hits.

The Dodgers also got some impressive pitching from rookie Greg Mayberry, Ed Vande Berg and Tom Niedenfuer. Two Montreal runs were unearned.

Mayberry, 6-2 and 210 pounds, a highly regarded right-hander, walked three batters in the fifth inning, then impressively pitched out of the jam. He gave up an unearned run in the sixth when shortstop Bill Russell threw a ball away at first base.

The other unearned run was scored when Vande Berg was pitching in the seventh. Reggie Williams dropped a routine fly ball in center field for a two-base error, then the run scored on an infield out. The Dodgers have made eight errors while winning three of five exhibition games, leading to the suspicion that the pitching is ahead of not only the hitters but the defense.

The Dodgers got 10 hits off four Montreal pitchers and scored the winning run in the ninth inning off the Expos’ premier relief pitcher, Jeff Reardon. Greg Brock singled and Mariano Duncan, who ran for him, stole second and scored on Alex Trevino’s single.

Dodger Notes

Besides driving in the winning run with his single in the ninth, Alex Trevino hit a home run with the bases empty in the fifth inning. . . . Pedro Guerrero got his first hit of the spring, a two-run single, in the sixth. He is now 1 for 9. . . . Fernando Valenzuela, who pitched three scoreless innings in his first start of the spring against Houston Sunday, will start today against the Texas Rangers at Vero Beach. . . . Catcher Mike Scioscia remained in Dodgertown when Manager Tom Lasorda gave him the day off. Mariano Duncan, who has scored nine runs in five games, thought he was going to have a day off, too, until Lasorda used him as a pinch runneR. Duncan has 6 hits in 13 at-bats this spring and is making his presence felt with his speed. . . . The average age of the Dodgers’ 40-man roster this spring is 27. Infielders are the oldest, averaging 30. . . . “Chemistry?” said Lasorda. “That’s too big a word for me. I didn’t take it in school. I don’t even know how to spell chemistry. That’s a question for Sparky Anderson (Detroit manager).” That good-natured tirade, vintage Lasorda, greeted an unsuspecting reporter who had thrust a microphone before the Dodger manager’s face, asking him about the chemistry of his club. At the time, Lasorda was in his favorite position, the center of attention, as he talked to a dozen or so reporters.