Dodgers Find Bats, Use Them to Beat Braves

Had this been last season, 11 runs might have been enough to assure a victory for Fernando Valenzuela. There was, after all, the Dodger defense and the state of Valenzuela’s left arm to consider.

But since last season’s anemic Dodger offense scored in double figures only six times, such philosophical pondering might not be valid.

“Yeah, you’re right,” said Pedro Guerrero, Dodger third baseman. “But this is not last season. I’m glad it’s not.”

That point was boldly underlined Saturday night when the combination of a 15-hit attack and a more consistent Valenzuela produced an 11-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves before 16,603 fans at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.

The Dodgers have won four straight games after an opening-day loss to the San Francisco Giants. Granted, three of the wins have come against the beleaguered Braves, but Saturday’s performance was impressive, regardless of the competition.

“We’re going to be in tougher games than this, we know that,” left fielder Kirk Gibson said. “You guys can say, it’s only Atlanta. Most people think they aren’t a quality team. But, hey, they’re on the schedule. It’s important for us to win now because there will come a time when we don’t win.”

After a spring of touting a lineup replete with power hitters, only to rely on manufacturing runs in the first four games, the Dodgers finally cut loose.

Led by shortstop Alfredo Griffin, who went 3 for 4 and had a career-high 4 runs batted in, and supported by home runs from Guerrero, Gibson and Rick Dempsey, the Dodgers rocked the shaky Brave pitching staff.

Every Dodger, except for Mike Davis, had at least one hit. Valenzuela helped himself with three sacrifice bunts, two of which led to runs, as well as slashing a single and scoring a run.

“We wanted to pick Fernando up,” Gibson said. “Get him some runs, especially early, and let him relax and get that scroogie working.”

Actually, Valenzuela’s most effective pitch was his curveball, not his screwball. But the big difference in Valenzuela Saturday, as opposed to his first start Monday and most of last season, was his control.

“He had great command of his pitches,” said Ron Perranoski, Dodger pitching coach.

Two ways to gauge Valenzuela’s control, of course, are his walk and pitch totals. In eight innings Saturday, Valenzuela walked 2 batters and threw 110 pitches. In some starts last season, that might have been his four-inning total.

Except for a run-scoring triple by Albert Hall in the fifth inning, Dale Murphy’s home run in the sixth and Murphy’s run-scoring single in the eighth, Valenzuela was in command. He had only 3 strikeouts but 15 groundouts.

“I threw the breaking ball for strikes tonight, and it was a big difference,” Valenzuela said. “When I was behind, I got that pitch over for strikes. That’s not really my big pitch, but it worked tonight.

“I really felt the same as last time (against the Giants), but I had better control. We also scored runs, and that’s good for any pitcher. And Alfredo saved a couple hits with some good defensive plays.”

Valenzuela admitted he hasn’t had the luxury of such a big lead. They have been so rare, in fact, that he remembered the last time it happened. It was here last July 31, when he struggled to a 9-5 victory.

After Saturday’s game, Dodger hitters all but guaranteed that such offensive displays will be frequent.

“This is the offense we expect ,” Guerrero said. “We’re going to score a lot of runs for every (Dodger pitcher).”

Saturday night’s hit list was led by Griffin, who is 5 for 21 but has a team-leading 9 RBIs. After producing a game-winning, three-run triple Friday night, Griffin had a two-run bloop single in the fourth inning, a run-scoring single up the middle in the sixth and a run-scoring double to right in the eighth Saturday.

“The last two seasons, in the first month, I’ve gotten a lot of RBIs early,” Griffin said. “In ‘86, I led the (American) league in RBIs the first month.

“I’ve got to enjoy it now. I’m a happy man. When the other guys really start to get swinging, you aren’t going to come over and talk to me for two months.”

Unlike Friday night, Griffin had to share billing with other Dodger hitters.

Guerrero went 3 for 4 and belted his first home run of the season, a bases-empty shot to right-center against Brave rookie starter Tom Glavine, who lasted only five innings.

Dempsey, starting in place of catcher Mike Scioscia, singled in the second inning and lifted a leadoff home run to left off reliever Jim Acker in the eighth. Dempsey, who had only one home run for the Cleveland Indians last season, played because Scioscia has a sore left Achilles’ tendon and a left-handed pitcher was starting.

“I was pretty rested tonight, because I haven’t been playing much,” Dempsey said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this strong. I hope I’m getting back to the way I was in ’85 (for the Baltimore Orioles). But I don’t want to get carried away. It’s only one game.”

Gibson also took his run-scoring single and three-run home run in stride, mostly because they came after he struck out in the first, third and fourth innings. Gibson’s home run was nonetheless impressive, a line drive that cleared the 402-foot sign in center field.

“I haven’t been making contact,” Gibson said. “I started out tonight brutal. The other guys picked me up, and then it was nice for me to end on a positive note.

“I’m not consistent right now. But I’ll find it. I’m the type of player where, either I’m very good or very bad. Fortunately, I got good at the end tonight. The way I see it, you can never get enough runs.”

Dodger Notes

Mike Scioscia said he didn’t like Manager Tom Lasorda’s decision to go with Rick Dempsey, who homered and singled Saturday night, but said he accepted it. “I’m ready to play, but I think Tommy is doing this for the long run,” Scioscia said. “I never like not playing.” Said Lasorda: “He could play, would play and wants to play. But he won’t play. You’ve got to give the other guy some work, and (Scioscia) is not totally healthy.” . . . Mike Devereaux, perhaps the Dodgers’ best minor league prospect, dislocated a finger sliding into second base in the Albuquerque Dukes’ 5-1 loss to Vancouver Friday night. . . . Meanwhile, Ramon Martinez, the club’s top pitching prospect playing double-A ball in San Antonio, had a rocky first outing. Martinez allowed 3 earned runs, 5 walks, had 6 strikeouts and two balks in 4 innings. . . . The Dodgers said Executive Vice President Fred Claire, hospitalized Friday with back spasms, was able to walk a few steps Saturday. “He also is able to brush his teeth,” trainer Bill Buhler said. “If you ever had a back problem, you’ll know how tough it is to do that, with all the bending over.” . . . Pitcher Ken Howell, eligible to come off the disabled list today, reported stiffness in his right shoulder after throwing a 10-minute simulated game Friday. Howell said he is a long way from returning. . . . The Dodgers will go for a sweep of the Braves today at 11:05 a.m., PDT, when Orel Hershiser (1-0) opposes Rick Mahler (0-0).