Unable to Nail It Down, Honeycutt Loses : Braves End Dodgers’ Win Streak on Alexander’s Four-Hitter, 7-1

Any manicurist would probably advise you to be careful not to do anything too strenuous, like typing or pitching nine innings, after getting your nails done.

But Dodger pitcher Rick Honeycutt, bothered recently by a cut cuticle on the middle finger of his left hand, had that nail buffed and polished before Wednesday night’s game against the Atlanta Braves in hopes that he could pitch without pain.

Turns out, Honeycutt almost didn’t pitch at all in the Dodgers’ 7-1 loss to the Braves after that treatment. The swatch of cotton under the nail, bonded by nail polish, caused more pain than it prevented.

After removing trainer Bill Buhler’s manicuring effort, Honeycutt said his finger felt fine, and he convinced Manager Tom Lasorda to let him start the game.

“Maybe (it was) a bad idea,” Honeycutt said.

Honeycutt said the finger gave him no problem after he removed the cotton and polish, but the Braves certainly gave him problems from the outset. He lasted just four innings, giving up five runs, four hits and walking five in his most disappointing showing of the season.

It also had to be disappointing for the Dodgers, whose three-game winning streak was snapped by veteran Brave pitcher Doyle Alexander, who probably had only dirt under his nails.

Alexander limited the Dodgers to just four hits in posting his first complete game of the season. The Dodgers had produced 28 runs and 38 hits the last three games after Lasorda’s decision to cancel batting practice.

This was a night in which the Dodgers needed another offensive windfall because it was clear from the start that the Braves were going to nail Honeycutt.

In the first inning, Honeycutt gave up a double to Rafael Ramirez, the second batter, then loaded the bases with two walks before Ted Simmons lashed a two-run double down the left-field line.

Walks hurt Honeycutt in the second inning, as did third baseman Mickey Hatcher’s throwing error to home plate that resulted in two Atlanta runs. Simmons’ RBI on a ground ball scored the fifth Brave run.

Although Honeycutt (2-5) settled down and pitched scoreless third and fourth innings, he was removed in the fifth inning for a pinch-hitter and replaced by Ken Howell.

It was Howell who was summoned before the game to warm-up in the bullpen in case the pain in Honeycutt’s finger did not subside. Howell wound up pitching three innings, anyway, giving up a two-run home run to Dale Murphy in the sixth inning that made it 7-1.

After his last three starts, Honeycutt has not wanted to blame his performances on his finger injury, which began as a blister but evolved into a cut cuticle.

Rather, Honeycutt has pointed to the ineffectiveness of his curveball, which had been his most effective pitch in May when he came close to recording two straight complete-game wins.

But maybe it’s merely a coincidence that the curveball betrayed Honeycutt at roughly the same time his injury developed.

“No, the finger was fine tonight,” Honeycutt said. “I put pressure on that finger on all my pitches. But, yes, the ripping (of the cuticle) does affect it more on the curveballs. That pitch hasn’t been there the last few games. I’ve developed bad mechanics.

“Tonight, I got in trouble walking batters. The location was bad. That was easy to see, after you walk five guys in four innings.”

Honeycutt said he completely abandoned throwing breaking balls after the second inning and relied strictly on his sinker. That produced two scoreless innings but, by that time, the Dodgers found themselves with a four-run deficit they weren’t able to overcome.

Alexander, who rejoined the Braves on May 26 after a failed test in the free-agent market, had not won in his previous two starts.

The only run the Dodgers mustered came in the second, when Franklin Stubbs led off with a double off the center-field wall and Hatcher brought him home with a single to center.

Other than that, Alexander was in control. He allowed only a fifth-inning single to Alex Trevino and a seventh-inning single to Stubbs the rest of the way. Alexander needed 95 pitches to post his second win, which was only 11 more than Honeycutt threw in five less innings.

“It’s pretty tough putting your team in a five-run hole,” Honeycutt said. “Especially because that was an outstanding pitcher out there today.”

Lasorda, who will likely reinstitute batting practice tonight when the Dodgers open a four-game series against Houston at Dodger Stadium, also gave Alexander credit.

Had the Dodgers (28-30) been able to hit Alexander, they could have ended the six-game trip with a 4-2 record. Instead, they settled for 3-3, which satisfied Lasorda.

“We could’ve gone 4-2, but now we’ve got to go back to that baseball axiom that you want to play .500 on the road. So, we did that.”

Dodger Notes

Terry Forster will have a tryout with the Dodgers by the end of the week, according to Mark Polan, his agent. “I don’t know the exact details of when or where,” said Polan, who has been negotiating with Sam Fernandez, the Dodgers assistant legal counsel. “I’m getting married Saturday, so I hope we have this done and get Terry signed with somebody before then.” Polan said Forster also might work out for a Minnesota Twin scout this week. Even if Forster signs this week, he still will need about two weeks’ work in the minor leagues before being ready to face major league hitters. . . . Trainer Bill Buhler reports that shortstop Mariano Duncan is walking with a limp after bruising his left hip and buttock Monday night. Duncan ran in the outfield briefly Wednesday. Duncan still is day-to-day, as is reliever Matt Young (strained ligament in his left elbow). Young plans to throw in the bullpen tonight.