Marshall Move Shakes Up Dodgers : After He Shifts to Right, Infield Errors Help Astros Win

When the Dodgers posted their lineup card on the dugout wall Tuesday night about two hours before the second game of an important series against the Houston Astros, they appeared to have at least two players out of position, if not order.

It was no mistake, though. Mike Marshall, per his pregame request, was shifted from first base to right field because he felt it would lessen the strain on his chronic back condition. Danny Heep, normally the right-field fill-in for slumping Mike Davis, was the surprise entrant at first base. And Pedro Guerrero, out again with a neck injury, was not listed anywhere.

The Marshall move, which ultimately might lead to Guerrero’s return to first base, did not help the Dodgers against the Astros, who moved within a half game of the first-place Dodgers in the National League West with a 5-2 win before a crowd of 25,509 at Dodger Stadium.

In fact, Heep’s shaky play at first base was a major contributor to the loss, the Dodgers’ second straight between the top teams in the West. Heep, who has played some at first base in the past, made one error and could not handle several hard-hit grounders that led to two Astro runs in the second inning and three in the third.

An angry Heep wasn’t sure who made the decision to suddenly change the lineup. But he wasn’t happy about it.

“It wasn’t fair to me, to (starter Tim) Belcher and to the team,” Heep said. “Changing the lineup like that--maybe, it’s only me--but it’s real bad timing. This is a big series. We’ve got to put our best lineup out there.

“I didn’t know what was going on. When you get two hours notice you’re going to play, you have to learn first base. Most first basemen make those plays I missed. But I’m not making excuses. I’m no Keith Hernandez, but a first baseman should make those plays.”

Lasorda said he was just as surprised as Heep when Marshall requested the move in a pregame meeting. Marshall has played steady at first base. But he felt that it was best for his back and his hitting stroke to return to right field, where he played for five seasons before switching to first base this spring.

“Although things have worked out at first base, it’s been a struggle because of my back,” Marshall said before the game. “Playing there every day takes its toll.”

As for where Guerrero and he play, Marshall said: “That’s Tommy’s decision. I just wanted to let him know how I was feeling. I also didn’t feel I was getting the most out of myself offensively. But I don’t know what the future holds.”

Marshall would not talk about his switch afterward, but Lasorda said it is a possibility that it might be a permanent arrangement when Guerrero returns from a pinched nerve in his neck. The alignment would put Guerrero at first base, Jeff Hamilton at third base, Marshall in right field and struggling Mike Davis on the bench.

Until Guerrero’s return, you might see Franklin Stubbs, Mickey Hatcher or maybe even Heep again at first base.

Or Marshall?

“I don’t know,” Lasorda said.

A disgruntled Davis, meanwhile, met with Lasorda before the game and did not take news of Marshall’s move well.

“I didn’t like it,” said Davis, whose average is .204. “ . . . I told him that I still have confidence in myself. I’ll be there in the heat of battle.”

Unfortunately for the Dodgers (30-23), Guerrero has not. He has missed both games against the Astros (30-24), and the Dodgers’ offense has felt his loss.

Regardless of the lineup, the Dodgers could not mount many threats against Astro right-hander Danny Darwin, who struck out a season-high eight and gave up only single runs in the first and sixth. It was his first win in nearly a month.

Meanwhile, Belcher gave up 5 runs, 2 earned, in 2 innings and did not receive much help from his defense. There was a positive note for the Dodgers, though: Relievers Brian Holton, Alejandro Pena and Tim Crews combined for 6 innings of shutout pitching.

Houston, which trailed, 1-0, after the first inning, responded in the top of the second. A single by Bill Doran and a double by Alan Ashby put runners in scoring position. Heep then made a fielding error on Kevin Bass’ grounder, allowing Doran to score the tying run. Rafael Ramirez’s line-drive single to right scored Ashby, but Marshall threw out Bass at third on a close play in which it appeared Bass beat the tag.

Belcher, who has not won since May 15, was hit hard, but on the ground, again in the third.

This time, it was a Hamilton throw that pulled Heep off the bag that began the Astro rally. A walk and a strikeout later, Doran singled under Heep’s glove to increase the Astros’ lead to 3-1. Ashby’s hard-hit single also bounced under Heep’s glove and into right field, making it, 4-1. And, finally, Bass’ single to right scored Doran for a 5-1 Astro advantage.

“I apologized to Tim,” Heep said. “He got the ground balls. I didn’t make the plays. I didn’t play much at first base in New York, and I only played there a couple times last season.”

Offensively, the Dodger highlight was John Shelby extending his hitting streak to 22 games with a sixth-inning single. Shelby later scored on Hamilton’s single. The Dodgers’ first run came when Sax singled, moved to third on Heep’s single and scored on Kirk Gibson’s ground-ball out.

Dodger Notes

The Dodgers are not certain how long Pedro Guerrero will be out with a pinched nerve in his neck, a condition trainer Bill Buhler described as arthritic. Could Guerrero be out as long as two weeks? “There’s always that possibility, but we don’t know now,” Buhler said. “He’s listed day-to-day.” Guerrero was examined by Dr. Robert Watkins Tuesday and underwent treatment. He was not at Tuesday night’s game. . . . Mike Marshall is not receiving special treatment for his back, according the Buhler, though Marshall says the strain on his back was his primary reason for requesting the shift to right field. “He does his back exercises, but I’m sure occasionally he has problems. Playing in the infield, you’re more aggressive than if you play in the outfield,” the trainer said. Marshall had made only 2 errors in 50 starts at first base, successfully making the transition from the outfield. “I realize I’ve played well at first base, but it was a decision I thought about and had to let Fred (Claire, the executive vice president) and Tommy (Lasorda) know about.”

Shortstop Alfredo Griffin, out with a broken bone in his right hand, will be examined again today by Dr. Charles Ashworth. Griffin, who still is about three weeks away from returning, might be fitted with a hard cast if swelling has subsided. . . . The Dodger pitching staff, which has been roughed up lately, held a closed-door meeting with Lasorda and pitching coach Ron Perranoski before Tuesday’s game. . . . The Dodgers’ Fernando Valenzuela (3-5) opposes Mike Scott (6-1) tonight at 7:35.

Don Sutton, who left Dodger Stadium without talking to reporters after Monday night’s no-decision, said Tuesday he agreed with Lasorda’s decision to remove him after he gave up only 3 hits and 1 run in 6 innings. “It was a decision by committee that made perfect sense,” Sutton said. “I reached a stage in my pitches that, if I had given up a base hit, they would have brought in (Alejandro Pena) then. So, why not get him in there at the start of the inning instead of having him pitch out of a jam? Tommy, Perry (Perranoski) and I were in total agreement.”