Dodgers Trade for a Center Fielder . . . but It Doesn’t Help : Poor Defense Against Mets This Time Leads to Their 7th Loss in a Row, 6-4

A change of faces does not automatically translate into a change in performance, so perhaps it was too much to ask that the Dodgers would respond to their first major trade of the season Friday night with another major event--a long-sought victory.

Instead, newly arrived center fielder John Shelby was a first-hand witness to all the problems that have become almost nightly occurrences during the past two weeks.

Misplayed ground balls. Wild over-throws. Offensive droughts with runners in scoring position. Home-run balls thrown by starting pitchers.

All the standards were there once again Friday night in a 6-4 loss to the New York Mets before 40,885 at Shea Stadium that extended the Dodgers’ losing streak to an alarming seven games.

For those keeping track of the Dodger death march throughout this Eastern trip, the last time the Dodgers lost seven straight was in June of 1984. Six of the losses have come on this road slide, and the Dodgers have done little to alter the manner of defeat.

“Just keep my same quotes from three weeks ago,” said Dodger reliever Matt Young, the loser in relief.

But Shelby, acquired earlier Friday from the Baltimore Orioles in a trade for veteran reliever Tom Niedenfuer, hadn’t seen the Dodgers’ act before Friday night.

Not that he could do much to prevent it.

It wasn’t Shelby who failed to bring runners home from third and second in the first inning, after Pedro Guerrero’s 11th home run gave the Dodgers a 3-0 lead. In the seventh, the Dodgers’ other threat, Shelby was walked and watched as the Dodgers again stranded runners in scoring position.

And it was shortstop Mariano Duncan and Young, not Shelby, who bungled plays in the infield that led to the Mets’ two-run seventh inning broke a 4-4 tie.

Forget that starter Fernando Valenzuela was tagged for three home runs--by Mookie Wilson in the third, Darryl Strawberry in the fourth and Kevin McReynolds in the sixth--and again did not look sharp. He still managed to keep the Dodgers only a run down (4-3) after six innings.

No, if you needed to draft a synopsis of the Dodgers’ problems during the losing streak, focus on the fateful seventh inning.

With one out in the top of the inning, the Dodgers tied the Mets and starter David Cone (4-4) when pinch-hitter Ralph Bryant tripled in Mariano Duncan, who reached first on a fielder’s choice. Steve Sax then walked, as did Shelby, against new pitcher Gene Walter, loading the bases. But then Bill Madlock, pinch-hitting for Ken Landreaux against new reliever Terry Leach, grounded into a double play that torpedoed the Dodger rally.

Then came the bottom of the seventh. Facing Young, who replaced Valenzuela, the Mets scored two runs without a ball leaving the infield. Well, the ball did stray into the outfield once, but it wasn’t the Mets’ doing.

Pinch-hitter Lee Mazzilli led off with an infield “hit” on a high-chopping ground ball that tied up Duncan, who could only knock it down.

Young was the next perpetrator of poor defense. He fielded Wilson’s sacrifice bunt attempt and launched a projectile that altered flight patterns at nearby LaGuardia Airport. Young’s throw to first sailed over Franklin Stubbs’ head and caromed past right fielder Bryant, backing up the play.

That play--strangely ruled a bunt single and two-base error instead of a sacrifice and error--scored Mazzilli, the winning run, and put Wilson on third. After a walk to Keith Hernandez, McReynolds grounded to Tracy Woodson at third base. The Dodgers got the force at second, but were late trying to complete the double play, and Wilson’s run made it 6-4.

“Personally, if I was playing third base, I would have gone home with the ball,” Manager Tom Lasorda said.

When it comes to the Dodger infield, Lasorda seemingly would do many things differently if it was possible.

“Like I’ve said many times,” Lasorda said, “our starting pitching will get us into the seventh, eighth and ninth innings with the chance to win. All we have to do is score the run, get the hit and make the play. We didn’t do it.”

Madlock, given the night off from third base because of a protracted offensive slump, says the Dodger defense, not the pitching or offense, is the main culprit in the losing streak.

“Tommy told us before the game (in a meeting), don’t do anything special--just catch and throw the ball,” Madlock said. “A couple of recent games, if we had had the defensive plays, we would have won the game, or at least still be playing.”

Dodger Notes Departed relief pitcher Tom Niedenfuer said several times during a farewell press conference that he did not request a trade. But, after the deal with Baltimore was announced, Niedenfuer seemed happy to go. “I don’t know yet whether I’ll like it,” he said. “I’ll like the chance to pitch. It’s going to be strange. I’ve never played in the American League and only played for one manager (Tom Lasorda).” . . . Mike Marshall, eligible to come off the disabled list on Sunday, had the stitches removed from his hand Friday in Los Angeles. Marshall will be allowed to hit balls off a tee on Monday. The Dodgers list Marshall as day-to-day. . . . Bob Welch (4-2) opposes Ron Darling (2-2) today at 11:20 (PDT). It is NBC’s Game of the Week.