Old Pal Humbles Dodgers : Rasmussen, New Padre, Fans 10, Pitches 5-Hitter

The problem with most sequels is that they tend to be just too predictable. But the premiere of “Dennis Rasmussen, Part II: A New Beginning” went from a horror flick to high drama against the Dodgers, who liked the original much better.

Eight days after failing to finish two innings against Dodger hitters in what turned out to be his final flop as a Cincinnati Red, Rasmussen made a costume change this week and became an unqualified hit as a San Diego Padre.

Facing the same Dodger lineup that bombed him in Los Angeles, Rasmussen pitched a complete-game 5-hitter and tied his career high with 10 strikeouts as the Padres eked out a 2-1 win over the Dodgers before 26,062 fans at Jack Murphy Stadium.

Overnight reviews on Rasmussen’s Padre debut, following the June 8 trade that sent reliever Candy Sierra to the Reds, ranged from raves by Manager Jack McKeon to cautious optimism by Rasmussen to grudging compliments by dazed and confused Doger hitters.

“We knew the guy was a good pitcher,” said McKeon, who made the trade in his other role as general manager. “Yes, he is the same guy who got battered around in Los Angeles, but he’s changed pitching patterns since then.”

And what changes were those, Jack?

“From letting them get hits to getting them out,” McKeon said, laughing. “I’m not going to tip my hand.”

The Dodgers, who had belted Rasmussen for 6 runs and 8 hits in 1 innings, grudingly gave credit to Rasmussen, who allowed only an unearned run Saturday night when his supporting cast suffered a lapse in the sixth inning.

“The guy pitched great,” Steve Sax said. “Maybe changing places helped the guy.”

But after seeing the Dodgers’ National League West lead over Houston shrink by a game, left fielder Kirk Gibson vowed that he would not let the Padres sweep this series, which they will try to do today.

“We should be beating the (stuffing) out of these . . . guys,” an incensed Gibson said. “We’re a better ball club. I’ll be there (today), intense and ready to play. The guys (on the Dodgers) sleeping on the field around here will be woken up. It’s not right that (the Padres) beat us.

“All I know is that the last two nights our pitchers (Tim Leary Friday night and Don Sutton Saturday night) have held them to three runs or less, and we should beat them. We’re a . . . better team.”

Because of Rasmussen (3-6) and a Padre offense that pecked away at Sutton (3-4) for single runs in the second and sixth innings, the Padres have won three straight games and four of their last five.

The Dodgers, meanwhile, have lost four of their last six. But they still lead the Astros by 1 1/2 games and the San Francisco Giants by 2 1/2 games in the West.

“That guy (Rasmussen) pitched a good game,” Gibson said. “But we sure helped him.”

Perhaps Rasmussen’s most important strikeout came with two out in the seventh inning and Sax at the plate. Rasmussen unflinchingly threw three straight curveballs past Sax, who wasn’t fooled by the pitches but wasn’t close to hitting any of them, either.

“Great curveballs; what can I say?” Sax said. “He didn’t fool me. I knew they were coming. I saw them, but that was it.”

Earlier, in the sixth, Rasmussen struck out Sax to open the inning, but Mickey Hatcher reached base when third baseman Chris Brown could not handle a routine chopper. Gibson then singled to right, advancing Hatcher to second.

Facing Mike Marshall, lately the Dodgers’ hottest hitter, Rasmussen served up a potential double play ground ball to shortstop. Garry Templeton flipped to Roberto Alomar at second to force a hard-charging Gibson. Perhaps rattled, Alomar threw the ball far over John Kruk’s head at first base, allowing Hatcher to score and moving Marshall to second with the potential go-ahead run. Rasmussen, however, struck out John Shelby to end the threat.

The Padres had given Rasmussen a run to work with in the second inning.

Sutton’s walk to Kruk was followed by Benito Santiago’s single, and one out later, a walk to Templeton loaded the bases. Rasmussen, the next batter, flied to right field, deep enough to allow Kruk to tag and score from third for a 1-0 lead.

The Padres took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth, Sutton’s last inning of work. Keith Moreland doubled to left-center as Shelby failed in an attempt to make a diving catch. Kruk’s grounder to first moved Moreland to third, and he scored on Santiago’s warning-track fly ball to left.

Dodger Notes

Pedro Guerrero completed his second day of traction therapy at Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood and told Dodger trainer Bill Buhler that his chronic neck soreness has subsided. Guerrero spends 20 minutes in traction five times a day. His last day in traction will be Tuesday, according to Buhler. “Pete wanted to go to the gym (in the hospital) to work out, but that sort of defeats the purpose of (resting the neck),” Buhler said. . . . Jesse Orosco, who had not pitched in nine days because of a tender left elbow, apparently came out of his brief appearance Friday night without hurting his elbow. Orosco underwent X-rays last week, and it showed bone deposits floating in the area. Trainers say he still will be able to pitch with it, and he did Saturday night, turning in two scoreless innings. . . . Last add injuries: Mike Marshall still had swelling in his left arm around the elbow after being hit by a pitch Friday night.

Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda, a stickler for the rules, approached the umpiring crew in the fourth inning and requested that the plug be pulled on a television monitor in the Padre dugout. After some deliberation, crew chief Doug Harvey made Padre Manager Jack McKeon turn off the TV. “They (the Padres) said it was a VCR, but they can see the game and they can steal the signs that way,” Lasorda said. “(The umpires) made them turn it off.”

Throughout John Shelby’s hitting streak, which ended Friday night at 24 games, the Dodger center fielder had hit safely against pitchers such as Dwight Gooden, Mike Scott and Nolan Ryan. But it ended when he went 0 for 4 against Padre starter Andy Hawkins and relievers Mark Grant and Lance McCullers. “I never felt like I was on top of the world,” Shelby said. “I don’t feel like I fell off it. I was just fortunate to hit the ball.” . . . Hawkins allowed only six hits and two runs Friday night and came away with a no-decision. But he was nonetheless encouraged by the outing. “I pitched well, even though I really didn’t feel like I had my best stuff,” Hawkins said Saturday. “I’ve been pitching well and could’ve won a few more games like last night’s. But that’s the way it goes, and I accept that.”

Carmelo Martinez, who had the game-winning double for the Padres Friday night, may not like his pinch-hitting role. But lately, he seems to be thriving. Martinez has five hits in his last nine pinch-hitting appearances. Overall, he is hitting .357 as a pinch-hitter. . . . Jeff Hamilton, Guerrero’s replacement at third base, said he does not want to make too much of his situation. “It’s an opportunity, but I’m not going to put emphasis on it,” Hamilton said. “I don’t like to say anything extreme about my situation.” . . . The Dodgers’ Tim Belcher (3-3) will pitch against Ed Whitson (5-5) today at 1 p.m.