A Relieved Howell Finally Gets First Save : Hershiser Is the Winner as Dodgers Defeat Giants Again, 4-2

A lot has happened since relief pitcher Ken Howell last recorded a save, which roughly dates back to the end of the so-called dead-ball era.

The Dodgers, Howell’s team, had lost 74 games spanning two seasons, saw their long-time vice president fired, gone through numerous roster changes and saw their manager become a temporary third base coach.

Yes, it has been quite awhile since Howell has managed to leave the mound at the end of a game having protected the lead. To be exact, the last time Howell accomplished such a feat was Sept. 3, 1986 in Montreal, when the Lively Ball controversy had not left Haiti.

But Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, in his 46th appearance since his last save, Howell pitched a shaky but successful ninth inning to nail down the Dodgers’ 4-2 win over the San Francisco Giants before a crowd of 38,834.

Howell’s long-sought save preserved the win for starter Orel Hershiser (11-9), who worked eight solid innings despite momentarily pausing in the fifth because of what he called a twinge of pain in his right elbow.

Said Howell: “I look back from last September to now and I can’t believe that it took so long for me to get a save. I’m paid to get saves.” For the Dodgers, whose fourth straight win Tuesday matched their season high, it was a time for celebration and good-natured ribbing. The main target this night was Howell, who gave up consecutive singles to Jeffrey Leonard and Harry Spilman in the ninth before getting Bob Brenly to foul out and Chili Davis to ground into a game-ending double play.

“What was that?” Hershiser mockingly asked. “His first save in 10 years? Maybe in his career?”

Countered Howell: “Yeah, it seems seemed that long.”

After Dave Anderson knocked down Davis’ hard-hit ground ball and flipped to second baseman Steve Sax, who threw to first to complete the double play, the Dodgers reacted as if an astonishing accomplishment had been achieved.

Howell was first hugged by catcher Mike Scioscia, then by Manager Tom Lasorda. Moments later, Howell was mugged by teammates.

“Who would have ever thought that we would play 100 games before Kenny Howell would get his first save, or that Kenny would get his first win (Saturday, in his second career start) before he got a save?” Anderson said, shaking his head. “It’s a big thing for him, and for us, too.”

The Dodgers’ four-game winning streak, modest by most standards, is being treated as a harbinger of good things to come by those involved. The win improved the Dodgers’ record to 45-55, and they remain in fourth place in the National League West, a half-game ahead of the Atlanta Braves and 8 behind the division-leading Cincinnati Reds.

The Giants, coming off an impressive four-game sweep of the East-leading St. Louis Cardinals, did not just let down the past two night. They crashed.

But the Dodgers’ improved play had a much to do with the Giant downfall.

Dodger hitters tagged Giant starter Atlee Hammaker for three early runs andscored an unearned run off reliever Jim Gott in the eighth.

Hershiser, meanwhile, was crusing with a 3-1 lead with two out in the fifth inning, when he stepped off the mound and extended his right arm as if in pain. He was quickly attended to by assistant trainer Charlie Strasser and catcher Alex Trevino, and took several warmup pitches before proceeding.

“It was just a twinge,” Hershiser said afterward. “I have those normally in almost every start. When I get a twinge, what I normally do is just pitch through it.

“That’s what I did three starts ago in Chicago, and it was still in my mind and I gave up a big hit. What I wanted to do tonight was throw a couple of warmup pitches and get rid of that doubt in my mind that everything was all right. This time, after I got some pitches, I had no doubt.”

Hershiser said he has felt “twinges” in his right elbow during most of his starts. On June 3 against the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium, Hershiser had to leave after 6 innings with soreness in the elbow.

He maintained then--and maintains now--that there is nothing serious about the condition.

“The only reason it gets publicized is because I took some warmup pitches and people notice that,” Hershiser said.

Lasorda certainly noticed.

“That’s what he should do, take some warmup pitches and make sure nothing’s wrong. Certainly, I was concerned about him. Thank God, nothing was seriously wrong.”

Once Hershiser resumed, it was as if the scene had not taken place. He continued without much challenge until tiring in the eighth, when the Giants scored a run. Hershiser walked Rob Thompson and Jose Uribe to open the inning and, after a double steal, Thompson scored on Mike Aldrete’s ground ball out.

That made it, 3-2, and Hershiser avoided further damage by forcing Kevin Mitchell to ground out.

Lasorda, 4-0 this season as a third base coach, had decided in the eighth that it would be Hershiser’s last inning. So, after the Dodgers scored a fourth run in the bottom of the eighth, he brought in Howell, who earned a win last Saturday in his first start since 1984.

“I know I wasn’t doing the job in relief,” Howell said. “But I’ve learned how to pitch. I think that start helped me. I’m learning not just to rely on my fastball, but to use all four pitches.”

Lasorda said that, although the Dodgers will return to a four-man starting rotation later this week at Atlanta, Howell eventually will be his fifth starter--until he pitches himself back into the bullpen.

“I want Howell to be a starter,” Lasorda said. “I think he can do a good job.”

If that happens, it might be even longer before Howell earns another save.

Dodger Notes

Mike Marshall missed his second straight game with a viral syndrome (flu). But Marshall also has suffered a recurrence of his bothersome lower back strain that sidelined him most of the second half of last season and part of this season. Charlie Strasser, the Dodgers’ assistant trainer, said Marshall’s back stiffness may have been caused by the flu. “Sometimes, you’re joints ache when you’re sick,” Strasser said. Said physical therapist Pat Screnar, who works with Marshall on back exercises: “I don’t think the back is any big deal. It may be stiff because of inactivity. We shouldn’t be overly concerned about this.” . . . Pitching Coach Ron Perranoski said Tuesday that the Dodgers will go with a four-man starting rotation because of Thursday’s off-day before starting a trip Friday in Atlanta. That means Fernando Valenzuela will pitch Friday. . . . Trainer Bill Buhler said that the soreness in the triceps muscle in pitcher Tim Crews’ right arm is not serious. “As long as his mechanics of throwing are correct, it shouldn’t bother him,” Buhler said. Crews said he first felt the soreness two weeks ago in Albuquerque. “It doesn’t bother me,” Crews said. “I’ve pitched with it. The only thing it might affect is my velocity, which won’t be as good, not there are ways of pitching around that.”. . . Mariano Duncan made his first start at shortstop in Albuquerque Monday night. He went 0 for 3. Julio Cruz made his first start at second base. He went 0 for 4. The other infield starters include Tracy Woodson at first and Jeff Hamilton at third. . . . Giant first baseman Will Clark was kept out of the starting lineup Tuesday night because of a slight case of the flu. Harry Spilman started in Clark’s place. . . . The Dodgers end their 13-game home stand tonight at 7:30 when Rick Honeycutt (2-10) faces Mike Krukow (1-6).