Persistent Hatcher Pays Off as Dodgers Defeat Phillies, 5-1

Determined to play Sunday, Mickey Hatcher certainly was not going to let a little pain or the prudent advice of the Dodger training staff keep him sidelined for another game.

Hatcher, out eight games with a strained groin muscle, failed a pregame baserunning test. So, Bill Buhler thought it was his duty as a trainer to tell Manager Tom Lasorda about it, which most likely would again have given Hatcher a good seat to watch the Dodgers play the Philadelphia Phillies.

But Hatcher doggedly followed Lasorda around the clubhouse beforehand, pleading to play despite the dissenting medical opinion. Finally, Lasorda relented and started the gimpy Hatcher for the first time since Aug. 14.

The payoff of Hatcher’s act of persuasion was a two-hit, two-runs batted in performance to help starting pitcher Orel Hershiser and the Dodgers score a 5-1 win over the Phillies before 36,407 fans at Veterans Stadium.

Once Hatcher set his mind to playing, Lasorda really had little choice but to give in. Afterward, of course, Lasorda was able to laugh about Hatcher’s earnest demand.

“He begged real bad,” Lasorda said. “I was afraid for a minute he was going to deck me in there.”

The only thing Hatcher hit was Phillies’ pitching, spearheading a 12-hit Dodger attack that gave Hershiser more than enough runs with which to work. Hatcher singled and scored in the second inning, then had an RBI single in the third and a run-scoring flyball in the seventh.

“I’m definitely not 100%, but it feels good enough to play,” Hatcher said. “The important thing right now is to get some offense. Even though I couldn’t run good, I thought I could help.”

Presumably, Hershiser (13-12) appreciated Hatcher’s gesture and the accompanying support. The injury depleted Dodgers (55-69), who were without Pedro Guerrero again Sunday, totaled only eight runs in the previous three games, all losses.

Hershiser, who had not won in three starts, took a shutout into the ninth inning before giving up a run on a walk, a double and two ground balls. It was the fourth time this season Hershiser has lost a shutout in the ninth inning, but at least he retained the elusive win Sunday.

Lately, the only suspense in Dodger games has occurred when Lasorda and Bill Russell, his sidekick, try to fill out the lineup card. Sunday, they hedged and made out separate lineups depending on Hatcher’s status.

But even after Hatcher almost forcibly chose to play, a late change was made because Guerrero’s chronic left hip soreness resurfaced. This shuffling of lineup cards because of injuries is nothing new, but it explains why the Dodgers’ offensive drought has been especially arid recently.

That is why, Hatcher says, he wanted to play Sunday. Perhaps the most competitive Dodger, and certainly the most energetic, Hatcher had grew fidgety sitting on the bench nursing his injury and occasionally pinch-hitting.

Earlier in the week, at Montreal, Hatcher tried running the bases without the consent of the trainers and aggravated the groin injury. So, when Hatcher requested another pregame test Sunday, Buhler watched carefully for even a hint of a limp.

“I don’t think the training staff is too happy with me,” Hatcher said sheepishly. “But that’s the way it goes. Being the stubborn guy I am, I really wanted to get out there. If I blow it out, then I blow it out. But I had to give it a try.”

And Buhler had to give Lasorda his learned opinion, which differed from Hatcher’s.

“He ran around out there, making real wide turns,” Buhler said. “He was not 100%, you could see. But I don’t get paid to make the big decisions.”

Lasorda does. And it took quite a bit of cajoling before he allowed Hatcher to play.

“Bill felt he wasn’t ready, wasn’t cutting right,” Lasorda said. “I’d bet on Bill being right more than Hatcher. He’s a good trainer, and I think he was right about Hatcher.”

Frustrated by the prolonged offensive slump, Lasorda held a team meeting to talk it over and maybe relieve some of the mounting pressure.

It resulted in 5 runs and 12 hits off starter Don Carman and Phillie relievers, a veritable windfall for this club. Phil Garner, hitting only .182 as a Dodger before Sunday, had two hits and an RBI, while John Shelby and Mike Scioscia had two hits apiece.

Even Hershiser contributed offensively. He laid down a bunt on a fourth-inning squeeze play that scored Garner with the Dodgers’ fourth run.

Hershiser, who gave up seven hits in notching his eighth complete game, faced a few difficulties before allowing the ninth-inning run.

Philadelphia’s best scoring chance was in the first inning. Juan Samuel, the leadoff hitter, doubled to left and advanced to third on Greg Gross’ grounder. But Hershiser struck out hot-hitting Milt Thompson and, after hitting Mike Schmidt with a pitch, got Von Hayes to fly to right.

The Phillies didn’t get a runner to third again until the seventh, when Lance Parrish hit a leadoff double went to third on Glenn Wilson’s looping single to left. But Hershiser struck out Steve Jeltz. Pinch-hitter Jeff Stone lined to shortstop Glenn Hoffman, who doubled off Wilson at first.

“That first inning, it was pretty exciting to get out of the jam,” Hershiser said. “I think it was a boost, because our club was in no position to come from behind.

“It was nice to get the offense to break out. But I really can’t get on them. That’s what the team meeting was about, to have them relax and not try too hard.”

Going hard is the only way Hatcher knows to play.

“You go crazy sitting on the bench watching after a while,” Hatcher said.

Observing the Dodgers for an extended period certainly can do that to a guy.

Dodger Notes

Trainer Bill Buhler described Pedro Guerrero’s sore left hip as chronic. “He’s had it since spring training, off and on,” Buhler said. . . . Neither Manager Tom Lasorda nor pitcher Orel Hershiser has a explanation why Hershiser has lost four potential shutouts in the ninth inning this season. “Maybe I just give up a run in the ninth, instead of the third inning,” Hershiser said. Could it also be that Hershiser tires by the ninth? Said Lasorda: “My answer is the same as Orel’s.” . . . Chris Gwynn nine-day stay in the major leagues ended after Sunday’s game when, as expected, the Dodgers activated Franklin Stubbs (dislocated shoulder) and sent Gwynn to Albuquerque. After going 3 for 4 in his major league debut, Gwynn went 1 for 12. “I’ll be playing down there (in Albuquerque),” Gwynn said. “I wouldn’t be playing every day here, so it might help.” . . . The next Dodger due off the disabled list is Dave Anderson (strained hamstring), who is eligible to play again Friday. But the Dodgers might decide to wait four more days--until Sept. 1, when the roster expands to 40 players--before activating Anderson, who apparently still has soreness in his hamstring.