4 Dodger Homers, 2 by Stubbs, Top Off Good Pitt Stop, 9-2

Bill Madlock lasted just 3 1/2 innings Thursday night.

For once, the Dodger third baseman didn’t come out because of a sore hip, a bad ankle, a pulled groin, a bum shoulder, phlebitis in his leg or any other aching body part listed in “Buhler’s Anatomy,” limited versions of which might be found in trainer Bill Buhler’s room.

When Madlock came out, the only ones hurting were the Pittsburgh Pirates, who never recovered from Madlock’s three-run homer in the first, which was immediately followed by Franklin Stubbs’ 18th homer of the season, which was followed three innings after that by Stubbs’ team-leading 19th homer.

Madlock’s replacement, Jeff Hamilton, hit his first big-league homer, this coming in the ninth inning, by which time starting Dodger pitcher Fernando Valenzuela also had departed from his team’s 9-2 pounding of the Pittsburgh Pirates before 11,044 fans in Three Rivers Stadium.

“Every game I play nine, that’s a bad sign for us, because it usually means we’re losing,” Madlock said after the Dodgers extended their modest winning streak to four games with a three-game sweep of Pittsburgh, the last-place team in the National League East.

The Dodgers also moved into fourth place in the NL West ahead of the Cincinnati Reds--by a percentage of .001.

“We’re looking for that eight-game winning streak,” said Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda, who continued to coach third base until the Dodgers stopped scoring runs, which wasn’t until the fifth inning.

“Win two, lose two--you can’t do that now. We’re going after it (a streak), and we’re approaching it now.”

The approach from spring training, Madlock said, was for him to go seven innings, then make a graceful exit for a more able-bodied defensive player. That can’t happen, however, when the Dodgers are trailing, which has been the case all too often.

But in this game, the Dodgers closed the case early against Pirate starter Bob Walk, who had thrown a four-hit shutout at Dodger Stadium on July 5 and who threw another four-hitter Thursday night--only this time he didn’t get anybody out.

Leadoff batter Steve Sax singled and reached second safely on a fielder’s choice when the Pirates were late covering second on Ken Landreaux’s tapper back to the mound. Ex-Pirate Madlock, who was booed loudly here and answered back with a gesture Wednesday night, responded in more graphic fashion this time, lining the ball over the left-field fence for his fifth home run of the season.

“That’s the way I’m used to seeing the Dodgers play,” Madlock said. “Make a mistake, and they hit a home run.”

And sometimes, they hit two. No sooner had Madlock completed his home-run trot than Stubbs went on a stroll of his own, launching a 400-foot blast to dead center. When Len Matuszek followed with a single, Walk took a hike.

The Dodgers added three runs in the next two innings off ex-Angel Pat Clements before Stubbs unloaded again in the fourth off Jim Winn, this one clearing the fence in left.

Stubbs has four home runs in the first seven games of this trip, a far different trip than the Dodgers had envisioned for him before Pedro Guerrero was hurt. At one time, the Dodgers figured that Stubbs would be back in the minors long before Cesar Cedeno would.

Said Madlock: “I just hope I’m around to get sandwiched right between those guys (Guerrero and Stubbs).

“Stubbs, and Pete, and (Mike) Marshall, they could hit 100 home runs. Then think what (Greg) Brock might hit, (Mike) Scioscia might hit--that will be a fun lineup to be in, if we ever get it together.

“That might be the year 2000.”

By then, Stubbs, who is just three homers away from league-leader Dave Parker, even though Stubbs was platooning with Cedeno earlier this season, should have made a good deal more money than the $65,000 he’s getting now.

“Cadillac,” said teammate Reggie Williams, an imaginary microphone in his hand, “just how much money are you trying to make?”

Answered Stubbs: “As much as they’re willing to pay.”

The Dodgers might not have much choice if Stubbs breaks the team home-run record of 33 set in 1977 by Steve Garvey and matched last season by Guerrero.

“I’m not even thinking about that,” Stubbs said. “I just want to be playing hard every day and want us to just try to get back in the race. If the record comes, that would be great. But helping us win again would mean even more.”

Valenzuela, who has never won 20 game in a season, came out of win No. 13 after allowing just six hits and a run.

“I want him to be healthy and strong in September,” Lasorda said in explaining why he lifted Valenzuela after 113 pitches.

And the Dodgers wanted Lasorda to continue as third-base coach--or so he said.

“That’s the way my players voted,” said Lasorda, who has filled in at third in this series because of a death in coach Joe Amalfitano’s family. “They said it would be more quiet in the dugout and there’d be a lot more room in there.”

At least one Dodger, however, had a change of heart after Len Matuszek, who was caught rounding third in the first inning, nearly got caught again in the third.

“I called time out and told Tommy, ‘Let’s do a double switch,’ ” Madlock said. “He said, ‘How can you do that to me?’ ”

Dodger Notes Pedro Guerrero, who was to have taken part in a simulated game, instead did not work out because of a stiff neck. Therapist Pat Screnar said the simulated game was not a final test to determine whether Guerrero is ready to play. “We weren’t looking at it that way,” Screnar said. “We just wanted to combine what he’s already been doing--hitting and running.” Asked if the Dodgers want to see Guerrero slide before he comes off the disabled list, Screnar said: “I don’t really want to comment on that. It’s really up to him. I’m sure if the situation arises, he’ll slide. I don’t think it’s going to be a problem.” Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda concurred, saying: “I don’t think he’ll have any problem sliding. He didn’t get hurt sliding. He got hurt because of his indecision on sliding.” . . . Dodger pitcher Orel Hershiser, asked if he’d talked with former teammate Sid Bream, who had said he planned to speak to Hershiser about the way the Dodger is pitching differently this season, said: “Yeah, we had lunch today, but I didn’t listen to him. What does he know? He plays first base.” . . . With two hits Thursday night, Steve Sax now has 119 hits, only four behind league leader Tony Gwynn. . . . With a week left in the month, Franklin Stubbs has 19 home runs in 243 at-bats. Through the end of July last season, Guerrero had 23 home runs in 324 at-bats.