Dodgers Pay Reuss as They Pound Him, 13-7

Had the Dodgers continued to struggle Sunday against Jerry Reuss, still on the Dodger payroll even though he wears a Cincinnati Reds’ uniform, who knows how severely Manager Tom Lasorda might have reacted.

Maybe Lasorda would have invoked an earlier curfew than Saturday’s 1 a.m. punishment and sent his team to bed without its customary post-game feast. Perhaps he would have made each player chip in to help pay off the $1.35 million the Dodgers owe Reuss over the next two seasons.

No such drastic measures were needed, however, because the Dodgers showed no mercy toward Reuss or the rest of the Reds.

One day after Lasorda’s first blowup of the season, in which he set a one-night curfew and threatened fines after another miserable loss, the Dodgers responded with an offensive assault that produced an 13-7 win over the Reds before 34,037 at Riverfront Stadium.

“We caught fire today,” right fielder Mike Marshall said. “Maybe that (talk) had something to do with it.”

Reuss, released by the Dodgers in April after eight seasons in Los Angeles, gave up 5 runs and 8 hits in just 2 innings. But Reuss was not the only Red pitcher knocked around, as the Dodgers pounded 17 hits and 13 runs, both season highs, in snapping a two-game losing streak.

Standing out among the many offensive contributors Sunday was Marshall, who hit two tape-measure home runs to center field on a day he had four hits and five runs-batted-in.

When Marshall hit a two-run home run off Guy Hoffman in the sixth inning, it was his first home run in 65 at bats. When he homered again in the eighth inning against Ron Robinson, it was the first time since April 19 that he had a two home runs on the same day.

“That’s probably the first game since I’ve been back (from the disabled list) that I’ve put it all together,” said Marshall, who has been back nine days. “I’ve really been searching for my power. I’ve been seeing the ball well and hitting, but not the home run balls.

“I think (Sunday’s power surge) was a combination of my back feeling better and getting my timing back and getting more confidence.”

Marshall has not been the only Dodger lacking confidence. The team had lost two straight and 14 of 20 when Lasorda gave them a tongue-lashing after Saturday’s loss to the Reds.

Lasorda, who said the 1 a.m. curfew will still be in effect (perhaps until the Dodgers lose?), said Sunday that it was time for a dose of negative reinforcement.

“When you’re a manager, and you see things go wrong, you try anything to change it,” Lasorda said. “Sometimes, you have no batting practice, sometimes extra batting practice, sometimes send them to bed early. I am not happy with what’s been happening. I’m hoping this is a start.”

Six of the Dodgers’ regulars had multiple-hit games, and all except shortstop Mariano Duncan had at least one hit. The Dodgers scored at least one run in every inning but the seventh and ninth.

Catcher Alex Trevino had three hits, including two doubles, while John Shelby, Franklin Stubbs and Mickey Hatcher each added an extra-base hit. Even pitcher Bob Welch (8-2) had a run-scoring single in the fifth inning.

The Dodgers’ long-awaited offensive barrage certainly was needed, since the Reds’ offense consistently produces. Even after seeing Reuss and three other relievers get knocked around, the Reds did not quit.

Cincinnati belted around Welch for three runs in the first inning, Kal Daniels leading off with a home run and Dave Parker belting a two-run home run to left.

That early explosion gave the Reds a 3-2 lead that was erased quickly.

Welch, who has won more games this season than all of last season, settled down and pitched six scoreless innings before giving up a two-run home run to Nick Esasky in the eighth.

Welch was replaced by Matt Young, the Dodgers’ top reliever, in the bottom of the ninth.

That move was not a good one, in more ways than one. Young could not hold the Reds, giving up two runs, and removed himself from the game with two outs complaining of soreness in his left elbow.

Brian Holton struck out Esasky for the final out, but it came at the expense of Young, who recently has had four saves.

Afterward, Young said he does not think the elbow soreness is serious. Still, he will be examined by a physician today in Atlanta, where the Dodgers open a three-game series against the Braves tonight.

“I just felt some discomfort in the elbow--I had it right after spring training and a few times in Seattle--and there didn’t seem any reason to keep going,” Young said. “I didn’t want to jeopardize being out longer. It may just take a few days rest.”

Said Lasorda: “If anything’s wrong with him, I’ll die. You know how important he is to this team.”

Reuss, meanwhile, cannot use an elbow injury as an excuse for continual poor showings with his new team. He is 0-4 and has an 8.01 earned-run average in six starts as a Red.

“The rest of the guys on this team are playing well,” Reuss said. “Damn it, it’s time I did, too.”

Lasorda said he got no satisfaction from beating Reuss. In fact, he said he wished the best for Reuss, except when he faced the Dodgers Sunday.

“Jerry wore a Dodger uniform for eight years and always gave everything he had,” Lasorda said, delivering the straight line.

Then, he added the punch line: “In the dugout today, I only called him a (bleep) twice and a (bleeping bleep) once. I’m usually a lot tougher on opposing pitchers.”

Dodger Notes

Mariano Duncan made his first start in five games Sunday and went 0 for 5. Returning as a switch-hitter, Duncan hit left-handed four times, striking out twice. “I haven’t played in five games, so I need timing,” Duncan said. “I feel more comfortable up there (left-handed).” . . . Except for giving up three home runs, Bob Welch was steady in posting his eighth win. Welch gave up five runs and six hits in eight innings. He also walked six Reds. Welch’s earned-run average is 3.17, third best among Dodger starters behind Rick Honeycutt (2.28) and Orel Hershiser (3.15).