No Road Is Too Tough for Dodgers : With 4-Run Ninth, They Win, 9-6, to Finish Sweep in Cincinnati

Dodger confidence has reached such a heightened state these days that no matter the situation or deficit, they believe they will always find a way to fend off defeat.

One day after overcoming a four-run early-inning bashing of Fernando Valenzuela to win, the Dodgers staged an even more impressive, if anxiety-inducing, comeback in the ninth inning Sunday to complete a three-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds with a 9-6 victory.

Though trailing, 6-5, in the ninth against ace reliever John Franco, who had not blown a save opportunity all season, the Dodgers systematically rallied, culminating the comeback with Steve Sax’s three-run double.

The initiator--and, later, cheerleader--in the ninth was Kirk Gibson, who led off with a double to left field that probably would have been only a single to a less daring baserunner. An out later, John Shelby singled in Gibson with the tying run. Another out later, with the bases loaded, Sax was sent up to pinch-hit despite being hobbled by a badly bruised left ankle suffered the night before.

Sax lined a 1-and-0 pitch down the right-field line, clearing the bases and clearing the way for a second straight Dodger come-from-behind win going into a three-game series at Houston, starting tonight. The second-place Astros trail the Dodgers in the National League West by 3 1/2 games.

Brian Holton easily retired the Reds in the ninth for his first save. Tim Belcher, who pitched well in relief before giving up Barry Larkin’s three-run home run in the eighth, was awarded the win.

Dodger clubhouse spirits have never been higher because the team has never played better this season than during this stretch. The Dodgers have won 7 of their last 8 games.

Although no doubt happy just to win, the Dodgers seemed to derive added pleasure from the degree of difficulty in the last two games. Coming from behind is a new sensation to the Dodgers. Before the weekend, they had won only 1 of 24 games in which they trailed or were tied after the fifth inning.

Gibson said: “I’ve said this recently. One of the last steps to make this a great team is to win games later, which we hadn’t done until the last couple days. Obviously, we’re getting that belief in ourselves now. That is very contagious. We were behind in these two games, but we got the wins and everybody should be happy.”

Gibson wasn’t a Dodger last season, so he could not appreciate the difference between this club and the 1987 edition.

“It’s an awesome feeling to come back like that,” said Holton, who was around last season. “Last year, we don’t do this. Last year, we give up. We lose.”

That appeared to be the direction in which the Dodgers were headed Sunday. They had a 5-3 lead, following five strong innings by starter Tim Leary and capable relief work by Belcher, who extricated Jesse Orosco from a seventh-inning jam when he struck out the side.

But then Belcher, not accustomed to his new role as the right-handed short reliever, gave up the three-run home run to Larkin three pitches after aggravating a strained right hip flexor muscle.

“Yeah, but the hip flexor didn’t throw that lousy pitch to Larkin,” Belcher said.

A half-inning later, though, Belcher (5-4) went from potential loser to a winner, courtesy of the Dodgers’ four-run ninth.

As Gibson jogged in from left field before the inning, he said he fantasized about a comeback and made himself the catalyst. Reality didn’t turn out to be much different.

“I was visualizing this,” Gibson said. “I was the first guy up, and I was going crazy. I couldn’t wait. When I hit the ball, I knew right then it was a double.”

Although Gibson slashed a liner to left-center, it was not out of reach of Red center fielder Eric Davis, who made a deft backhand stop and quickly made a throw to second base. But Gibson, who admitted that most players would not have taken such a chance in such a crucial situation, would not be deterred. “As soon as I hit the ball, I put my head down,” Gibson said, laughing. “I thought I heard Manny (Mota, the first base coach) say, ‘No, no, no.’ But I wasn’t going to stop.

“Let’s face it, I was flying on the bases. I think it only took me three strides to get to second.”

Gibson’s arrival at second base was not quite that swift, but apparently it was the cold slap in the face the Dodgers needed after their eighth-inning problems.

Shelby, who went 3 for 5 with 3 RBIs, was not quite so loquacious in describing his line-drive single that brought in Gibson and made it 6-6.

“I feel relaxed at the plate,” Shelby said. “I don’t even think about the situation. (Franco) got the pitch up and I had a chance to pull it instead of hitting to the opposite field.”

Manager Tom Lasorda, meanwhile, called Sax’s pinch double “the most important for him this season.” Sax limped severely to second base on the hit and had to be lifted for a pinch-runner.

Upon arrival in the dugout, Sax was swarmed by teammates and nearly mauled by Gibson, who had been prowling the dugout after scoring. Gibson had been shouting at Sax at second base and ran out of the dugout to greet the three runners who scored.

“I enjoyed that so much,” Gibson said. “I enjoyed today thoroughly. It was a team win, and we’ve got a good team.”

Dodger Notes

Tim Belcher, who on Sunday made his second appearance as a short reliever, said he wants to return to the starting rotation, but he said he accepts his new role. “I’m not sold on yet,” Belcher said of short relief. “That’s as optimistic as I can be about it. I’m not going to come out and say it (is bad). I won’t do that to myself because I have to stay in this role for another two weeks.” Belcher will be in the bullpen until Jay Howell comes off the disabled list. . . . Belcher said he aggravated his hip muscle because he is not used to inactivity on the bench and then warming up quickly to get in the game. “It should be OK, but it flared up because I threw three straight days in the bullpen,” Belcher said. . . . Shortstop Dave Anderson, Alfredo Griffin’s fill-in, continued his excellent play. Anderson had two doubles in four at-bats Sunday and improved his batting average to .314. . . . Rick Dempsey, starting at catcher in place of Mike Scioscia because a left-hander (Tom Browning) was pitching, hit his fourth home run of the season in the fourth inning. . . . Dodger starter Tim Leary lasted one batter into the sixth inning, allowing 3 runs and 4 hits and striking out 5. Leary also gave up a home run and double to Chris Sabo.