Streak Ends for Dodgers as Ball and Ballgame Get Away, 3-1

The first and largest clue that the Dodgers’ seven-game win streak would never see the light of No. 8 occurred in the third inning of Sunday’s get-together with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Cardinal pitcher Bob Forsch stood on third. Andy Van Slyke was on second. There were two outs, no score and Dodger Orel Hershiser on the mound.

Hershiser already had thrown a wild pitch, allowing Forsch, who had doubled, to advance to third. Van Slyke was on second after a walk and a stolen base.

No problem. Up to bat was Tommy Herr, owner of a .154 average and only 5 RBIs. Surely, Hershiser would dispose of the light-hitting Herr.

A fine strategy indeed, except that Hershiser bounced a 2-1 pitch past Herr and a lunging catcher Mike Scioscia to allow Forsch to score without the benefit of another hit. Better yet was the sight of the lumbering Scioscia trying to retrieve the ball as plate umpire Eric Gregg hurried to get out of his way.

Well, hurried isn’t exactly the right word. Gregg, 6-3 and a charitable 250-plus pounds, moved with all the nimbleness of a glacier. Even Scioscia, who weighs 220 and is built like a Buick, couldn’t budge Gregg.

So off went the ball, in came Forsch, and the Cardinals had their first run in two games and, later, their first win since last Monday as they defeated the Dodgers, 3-1.

“I kind of gave us a flat tire,” Hershiser said.

“He just had one bad inning, and that made the difference in the ballgame,” Manager Tom Lasorda said.

Actually, a Dodger Stadium crowd of 45,445 saw Hershiser struggle in two of his seven innings of work, but that was enough as Forsch and three other Cardinal pitchers held the Dodgers to two singles and a double. Hershiser (3-3) now has equaled his loss total for the entire 1985 season, which he finished 19-3. In his three defeats this season, the Dodgers have scored a grand total of one run.

“Got my third (loss) out of the way early,” said Hershiser, who allowed two of his three walks and four of his five hits in the third and fourth innings. “Last year, July 7, that’s when I got it all out of the way. May now.

“Now I’ve got something to look forward to.”

Not if the Dodgers do what they did Sunday, which wasn’t much. Leadoff man Mariano Duncan went 0 for 4, including three strikeouts. In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Dodgers had one out and the bases loaded after three consecutive walks by Forsch (2-1). They left with just one run.

Why Hershiser?

“It’s the same thing that people asked us about Fernando (Valenzuela),” Scioscia said. “It’s been a history of non-support for Fernando. Orel came on strong at the end, and it’s shame we couldn’t get him any run support.”

It didn’t help that Gregg and Scioscia had their impromptu wrestling match, either.

“I know Eric didn’t do it intentionally,” Scioscia said. “It ended up being the difference between an out and a run. But things like that are bound to happen.”

Said Hershiser: “I don’t think he could help but get in the way.”

Umpires are considered part of the field. Fine, said Lasorda. The next time Gregg should imitate a blade of infield grass rather than the outfield wall.

Lasorda: “I told (Gregg), ‘You’ve got to learn to move around back there.’

“He said, ‘I’m doing the best I can.’ ”

The Cardinals added two more runs in the fourth as Jack Clark singled, Clint Hurdle walked and Terry Pendleton sacrificed, moving both runners into scoring position. Catcher Mike LaValliere, who replaced Mike Heath (hitless in his last 31 at-bats), singled to drive in Clark. Ozzie Smith followed with another single, which scored Hurdle.

Hershiser worked out of a bases-loaded jam later in the inning and went on to retire 10 straight St. Louis batters. Too late.

“It just came and went today,” he said.

The Cardinals were 1-10 in their previous 11 games. Desperate for a win and benefactors of an off-day today, Manager Whitey Herzog used three different pitchers in the ninth inning. Todd Worrell ended up with the save, his fourth. But Greg Bargar, who ended a Dodger rally in the seventh, and Rick Horton, who coaxed Scioscia into grounding out in the ninth, also deserved mention.

There is some good news. Hershiser said his fickle back, which forced him to leave after just six innings in his last start, felt fine.

And though the win streak is done for now, Enos Cabell, who delivered a sacrifice fly that scored Scioscia, found something nice to say about the week’s work. “We have a respectable record (13-14), at least.”

Dodger Notes

Cardinal left fielder Vince Coleman, who bruised his left knee Friday night, missed both weekend games against the Dodgers. . . . Greg Brock was back in the Dodger lineup Sunday against the right-handed Bob Forsch. He went 1 for 4. . . . Mayor and Mrs. Tom Bradley celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary at Dodger Stadium Sunday. . . . The Dodgers leave today for an eight-game trip. They’ll play the Cubs, Expos and Cardinals. On Tuesday, Bob Welch (3-1) will face Chicago’s Guy Hoffman (0-1).