On Fireworks Night, Dodgers Again Fizzle, 8-2

The San Francisco Giants won Friday night but fell out of contention mathematically for second place in the National League West, which will go to the Cincinnati Reds.

The Dodgers lost to the Giants, 8-2, and remained the odds-on choice to finish last.

If it weren’t for the fireworks that followed the game, much of the Dodger Stadium crowd of 32,945 might have left after the game’s first five batters. That’s all it took for the Giants to score four runs against longtime nemesis Bob Welch, who came into the game with a 17-2 record against San Francisco.

Welch, who had won just once in his last six starts despite a 1.32 earned-run average during that stretch, fell to 7-13, his loss total matching the most he’s ever had as a Dodger (he was 13-13 in 1984).

Welch left the game in the sixth, when the Giants scored four more runs against Welch and reliever Balvino Galvez on three infield hits, a blooper, a passed ball and a bases-loaded walk.

The Dodgers were shut out by Giant rookie Kelly Downs until the seventh inning, when Ralph Bryant hit a 400-foot home run to deep center, his sixth home run since his recall from Albuquerque.

Steve Sax singled home the Dodgers’ other run in the eighth. Sax failed on a bunt attempt and struck out in the first, grounded to short in the fourth and fouled out in the sixth before lining a hit in front of Giant right fielder Candy Maldonado.

Sax’s 1-for-4 night caused his average to drop a point to .330, tying him for second place in the league batting race with San Diego’s Tony Gwynn, who went 2 for 4. Both players trail Tim Raines, who is batting .335 and did not play Friday.

Mariano Duncan’s first-inning error gave the Dodgers 178 errors in 160 games this season.

Welch, a 100-game winner in his career as a Dodger, is eligible to become a free agent after this season.

Asked about 1987, he said: “I just don’t want to say anything. It’s disappointing to go out and pitch like that. It’s been a long, long season.”

Pressed again about next season, he said: “It’s good for me not to comment, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think about it.”

First baseman Greg Brock, who injured his right shoulder Tuesday in San Diego, will not play today or Sunday.

NATIONAL LEAGUE BATTING RACE

TIM RAINES, Montreal

Friday Season AB R H G AB R H Avg DID NOT PLAY 149 573 90 192 .335

STEVE SAX, Dodgers

Friday Season AB R H G AB R H Avg 4 0 1 155 627 89 207 .330

TONY GWYNN, San Diego

Friday Season AB R H G AB R H Avg 4 1 2 158 633 105 209 .330