Dravecky, Giants Send Dodgers to a Painful Defeat

Maybe they should hang a No Vacancy sign outside the trainer’s room in the visitors’ clubhouse at Candlestick Park. There simply is no room there--or on the disabled list--for all of the injured Dodger players to congregate and commiserate.

So, although battered and beaten, the Dodgers limped onto the field again Saturday and faced the San Francisco Giants. They staggered back into the clubhouse three hours later as 5-0 losers to the Giants, yet seemingly relieved that they had survived another day.

Just barely.

A prime example of the sorry state of what’s left of the Dodgers is Pedro Guerrero. Bothered by a sore right thumb that has affected his hitting, Guerrero has remained in the lineup because there is no one healthy enough to replace him.

Saturday, in Giant left-hander Dave Dravecky’s four-hit shutout of the depleted Dodgers, Guerrero went hitless in four at-bats. Guerrero, 3 for 31 in his last eight games, took a called third strike in the ninth inning to end the Dodgers’ afternoon of futility.

“I have a lot of pain,” Guerrero said. “But we have too many injured players for me to sit. Even though I’m not helping the team, I’m there.

“I wish we’d get everybody back, so I could take some time off and get better. But let’s say I decide not to play tomorrow. Who would play first base? Maybe one of you guys (reporters) would have to come down and play first.”

The situation has not deteriorated that much--yet.

But the Dodgers (52-64) didn’t put up much of a fight Saturday. Starting pitcher Fernando Valenzuela (9-11) gave up three runs on five hits in the first inning, then allowed only one run over his last six innings.

The Dodger offense, such as it is, advanced a runner as far as third base only once. This occurred in the eighth inning, and the Dodgers did it without producing a hit. But Dravecky (6-9) slipped a called third strike past pinch-hitter Alex Trevino to work out of that jam.

“We couldn’t even generate a rally,” Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda said. “Possibly that was Lefty Grove out there. He pitched an outstanding game. . . . Made it look easy.”

Lasorda was upset, but not baffled, by his team’s offensive drought. Many of his best hitters weren’t available. And Guerrero, the club’s best hitter, experienced pain whenever he gripped a bat.

A look around the Dodger clubhouse told the story.

There was Guerrero, sitting dejectedly with bulging ice bags attached to his right hand and neck. There was Phil Garner, stalking about with most of his torso mummified by bandages. And there was Steve Sax, hobbling around on a tender Achilles’ tendon.

And those were the Dodgers who played .

In addition to the list of disabled players, right fielder Mike Marshall (left ankle bruise) and third baseman Mickey Hatcher (groin strain) sat out Saturday’s game. The Dodgers had so many disabled players, there wasn’t room for all of them in the dugout during the game. So, some of the wounded sat in the press box and some in luxury boxes.

Guerrero is painfully aware of the Dodgers’ predicament. That, he says, is the only reason he remains in the lineup.

“I’ve never come to the park 100%, so why not go out there and play?” Guerrero said. “It’s OK for a guy to take a day off, but not three or four days with a little pain in my hand. We have too many injured guys for me to do that.”

Said Lasorda: “It’s really bothered him, but he’s out there playing with it. I keep telling him, ‘If it hurts you, get out of there.’ But he still wants to play.”

As bleak as the Dodgers’ situation appears, Guerrero and other Dodgers still believe they have an outside chance at contending in the less-than-contentious National League West. Saturday’s loss plunged the Dodgers 8 1/2 games behind the Giants and Cincinnati Reds, who are tied for the West lead.

Not much evidence, though, could be found to support the belief that the Dodgers still can be a factor.

The Giants didn’t hit Valenzuela hard in the first inning, just often. Three bloop hits and a single between shortstop and third base resulted in three runs. After escaping from a bases-loaded jam, Valenzuela didn’t give up another hit until the fifth inning. He allowed a fourth run in the sixth when Rob Thompson singled home Jose Uribe, who had led off with a single.

San Francisco made it 5-0 in the eighth against reliever Ken Howell. With Uribe on third base and one out, Dravecky could not make contact on an attempted squeeze play.

Catcher Mike Scioscia ran Uribe back toward third, then flipped the ball to Garner. Uribe dodged Garner’s attempted tag and dove back to third. Garner’s throw to shortstop Mariano Duncan trickled into left field, allowing Uribe to score.

Valenzuela endured the loss, his second straight.

“You pitch good and lose, it doesn’t matter,” Valenzuela said. “I’d like to pitch bad and win a game.”

Lasorda defended Valenzuela’s pitching.

“I would have to say that those balls they hit in the first inning not only had eyes but ears,” he said. “They could hear the sound of the outfielder’s steps coming at them.”

Apparently, the balls didn’t stop, look and listen when the Dodgers were at the plate.

Scioscia had two of the Dodgers’ four hits, Sax and John Shelby getting the other two.

Rookie left fielder Chris Gwynn, who had three hits Friday night, went 0 for 3 and struck out twice. But then, even Guerrero struck out and grounded into a double play.

“We were able to get (a team) out there,” Lasorda said. “We just didn’t hit.”

Dodger Notes

Even though the Dodger injury situation has improved, they still find themselves shorthanded. With Mickey Hatcher (strained right groin) probably out until at least Tuesday, Vice President Fred Claire was asked if he would consider expanding the roster from 24 to 25 players. All major league teams have that option, but none have exercised it. Regardless of Hatcher’s status, the Dodgers still could use another healthy player. “I haven’t made any decision on that,” Claire said. “The only thing I have to say is that we’re exploring every option. I don’t know how many teams are in a position we are in, in terms of all the disabled list spots available being filled.” Claire was asked what the advantages of staying at 24 players, as opposed to having 25. “I don’t know, but like I said, we’re looking at our options. I don’t want to put Hatcher on the 15-day disabled list if he can play before that.” . . . Special assignment scout Mel Didier met with Claire and Manager Tom Lasorda before Saturday’s game. Didier recently has scouted the Baltimore Orioles. The Dodgers reportedly still are interested in trading for Oriole first baseman Eddie Murray.