Dodgers Hang On to Win First Game, Let Second Get Away

Any way you look at it, Thursday figured to be a long night for the Dodgers and the San Diego Padres, who were sentenced to play a rather unattractive doubleheader because of Wednesday night’s rare rainout.

But for beleaguered Dodger reliever Ken Howell, the night must have seemed endless. Or maybe it just typified how the season has gone for both Howell and the Dodgers.

It took a solo home run by Dodger rookie Jeff Hamilton in the 10th inning to give Howell a 4-3 win in the first game after Howell failed to hold a 3-1 lead in the ninth, yielding two runs on a Steve Garvey double.

But in the second game, Manager Tom Lasorda went right back with Howell in the top of the ninth with the Dodgers leading, 6-5.

This time, Kevin McReynolds hit a 2-and-2 fastball over the left-field fence for a two-run home run, making Howell the 7-6 loser.

Most in the late-arriving crowd of 24,397 at Dodger Stadium made it in time to watch Howell lose the lead in the opening game, so the scattered boos accompanying Howell when he took the mound in the ninth inning of the second game were not surprising.

It also wasn’t surprising that the Padres rallied. They had done so twice before in the game off different Dodger relievers. When Jerry Reuss, making his first start since July elbow surgery, was forced to leave in the fifth, Brian Holton replaced him and eventually lost a 3-1 lead.

Then, Dodger reliever Dennis Powell turned a 3-3 game into a 5-3 deficit going into the bottom of the eighth inning, but the Dodgers scored three runs off San Diego reliever Lance McCullers.

McCullers, the loser of the first game, wound up the winner of the second.

Reuss gave up a run in the first inning of the nightcap before settling down and pitching three strong innings. But while warming up in the top of the fifth, Reuss felt stiffness in his left elbow and had to be replaced.

Just as it did in the first game, the Dodger bullpen couldn’t hold a lead. San Diego, led by the hitting of McReynolds, Tim Pyznarski and Randy Asadoor, scored two runs in both the seventh (off Holton) and eighth (off Powell) for a 5-3 lead.

But in the bottom of the eighth, the Dodger offense bounced back again, and again it was against McCullers, among others. This time, a double by Hamilton, singles by Alex Trevino and pinch-hitter Pedro Guerrero, three walks (one intentional) and a Bill Madlock ground ball resulted in three runs and a 6-5 lead going into the ninth inning.

The Dodgers needed a strong relief showing in the top of the ninth to assure a win in the second game. And they did not get it from Howell.

An interesting subplot to the doubleheader was the competition between Dodger second baseman Steve Sax and Padre outfielder Tony Gwynn, both of whom are chasing Montreal’s Tim Raines for the National League batting title.

Sax extended his hitting streak to 23 games with a single in each game but went 2 for 9 combined and saw his average dip to .327. Gwynn went 3 for 9 and his averaged remained at .332. Raines still leads at .336.

Naturally, the Dodgers would much rather remember the first game, which had a happy ending for them.

Starting pitcher Rick Honeycutt went into the ninth inning, virtually uncharted territory for him, with a one-hit shutout and seemingly a good chance for his first complete game of the season. By the time the inning was over, though, Honeycutt had given way to Howell, and the Padres had scored three runs to make what figured to be a long night at least one inning longer.

Howell was summoned with the Dodgers clinging to a 3-1 lead with one out and runners on second and first. After Howell got McReynolds to fly to right, Garvey doubled to left-center, scoring pinch-runner Bip Roberts from third and Gwynn from first.

It looked as though the Dodgers had a good chance to put out Gwynn at the plate, but Jose Gonzales’ throw was to the first-base side of home plate and almost hit Howell as he moved to back up the play. Catcher Mike Scioscia couldn’t handle the throw.

Said Scioscia: “Kenny’s position on the throw had no affect on the play. Even if I could have come up with the ball, (Gwynn) would have been safe.”

In the 10th, Hamilton, who had replaced Bill Madlock in the ninth inning strictly for defensive purposes, lined McCullers’ two-strike fastball over the left-field fence to give Howell the win and make him feel at least a little better for losing the lead Honeycutt had maintained.

“That kind of sums up our year, that one inning,” a disappointed Honeycutt said. “I threw the ball as good as I have all year, but it takes nine innings to win it.”

Hamilton, who hit another home run and a double in the second game, said he was simply trying to make contact and reach base in the opener.

“You get more intense and just hope to get on (base) in that situation,” Hamilton said. “But I’ve been a lot more comfortable at the plate the last week or so. Maybe it’s because I’ve switched to a heavier bat.”

To be exact, Hamilton switched from a 32-ounce bat to a 34-ounce bat. Hamilton could only speculate whether it was the two-ounce difference that carried the line drive over the fence.

“Using a heavier bat makes me wait more and relax at the plate,” Hamilton said. I don’t know if that’s the key. Maybe I’m just getting a little better.”

Thursday night’s crowd pushed the Dodgers’ season attendance to 2,924,858 with three home games remaining.

NATIONAL LEAGUE BATTING RACE

PLAYER TEAM THURS. SEASON AB R H G AB R H BA Tim Raines Montreal 3 2 1 145 562 90 189 .336 Tony Gwynn* San Diego 9 2 3 152 608 99 202 .332 Steve Sax* Dodgers 9 0 2 148 600 84 196 .327

* Played two games Thursday night.