Dodger Pitchers and Wins Keep Adding Up

Good thing that the Dodgers, impulse shoppers in the free-agent market, agreed to terms with Mario Soto Monday. Can’t you just tell this team could use more pitching?

Hours after acquiring the recently released veteran pitcher, the Dodgers once again showed that they need another pitcher like their manager needs another plate of pasta. But then, some people collect coins; the Dodgers collect pitchers.

“You don’t understand,” catcher Mike Scioscia said. “You can have 15 good pitchers, and you’re always looking for No. 16.”

Monday night, the Dodgers used four more-than-adequate pitchers to turn back the Houston Astros, 4-0, before 27,185 fans at the Astrodome. The win, the Dodgers’ 4th straight and 9th in their last 10 games, extended their lead in the National League West to a season-high 4 1/2 games.

For starters, 23-year-old right-hander Shawn Hillegas allowed only two hits through six innings in his second strong outing since his recall from the triple-A Albuquerque, N.M., affiliate. Then, the Dodger bullpen turned in another solid effort, Alejandro Pena finishing it off for his sixth save.

Even before the acquisition of Soto, who figures to have a rehabilitation assignment before being activated, the Dodgers had a surplus of quality pitchers. Hillegas is the sixth starter on a five-man rotation, Tim Belcher temporarily in the bullpen because of Jay Howell’s rib injury.

But Hillegas’ domination of the Astros--allowing only Bill Doran’s single to center and Rafael Ramirez’s infield single--may have won him a permanent starting job. Well, at least for a while.

The status of Hillegas, despite a 2-0 record and a 1.90 earned-run average, remains nebulous. As does Belcher’s, Soto’s and Don Sutton’s.

“Let’s put it this way,” Manager Tom Lasorda said, “five days from now, (Hillegas) will pitch again.”

Hillegas said he will gladly accept the ball. He only slightly grudgingly gave it up after the sixth inning, when Lasorda pulled him for a pinch-hitter with the Dodgers holding a 1-0 lead and runners in scoring position.

The Dodgers’ first run came on Scioscia’s solo home run off Astro starter Joaquin Andujar, who took the loss despite giving up 1 earned run in 6 innings. The Dodgers added an unearned run in the seventh on Ramirez’s throwing error.

Hillegas had as many hits himself--two--as he had given up to the Astros at that point. Hillegas’ singles in the third and fifth innings were his first and second major league hits.

“Yeah, I could’ve gone on,” Hillegas said. “But that situation in the seventh inning, I understood that they wanted the extra runs. Tommy felt I did my job, and he turned it over to the bullpen. They did a great job.”

Tim Crews took over and ran into a few problems, putting runners on first and third with two out. Lasorda summoned Jesse Orosco, who struck out pinch-hitter Jim Pankovits to preserve the shutout bid.

Pena, who came within one out of a save Saturday night in Cincinnati before being relieved, pitched scoreless eighth and ninth innings to earn the save. Pena was angry and stormed off the field after Saturday’s outing, but he was his usual placid self Monday.

“It’ll happen--maybe a lot of times,” Pena said of his interrupted save bid in Cincinnati. “Every time they give me the ball, I try to do my best. That’s all I can say.”

By the ninth inning Monday, Pena had the luxury of a 4-0 lead. The Dodgers had added two runs in the top of that inning off Astro reliever Dave Smith. Rick Dempsey, who led off with a double, eventually scored from third on Smith’s balk. And Franklin Stubbs’ double drove in Steve Sax for the fourth run.

The Astros finished with just four singles, two of which did not leave the infield. Lately, that’s a good night for them. They totaled just eight hits in their just-concluded three-game series against the San Francisco Giants.

“I knew they haven’t been hitting the ball well,” Hillegas said. “But that’s not something I can concern myself with. I just have to go out there and pitch.” As for his status with the Dodgers, Hillegas said he knows that Belcher prefers to be a starter and that Sutton has a tenuous position in the rotation. And, eventually, Soto should figure into the equation.

“All I’m doing is trying to make them fit me into the rotation,” Hillegas said. “I hope I can make them feel confident in me and keep me in there.

“I’m feeling good right now. I just have to remember to stay ahead of the hitters and throws strikes. There are some pitchers who can pitch well when they’re behind in the count. I’m not that good yet.”

But, the Dodgers’ current pitching staff, with a 3.14 earned-run average that is second only to the New York Mets in the National League, is doing well enough to keep the club comfortably ahead in the West.

And that’s without Mario Soto.

Dodger Notes

The Dodgers sustained what trainers described as two minor injuries: Mike Marshall strained his left hamstring and left the game in the eighth inning, and shortstop Dave Anderson bruised his thumb when he jammed it into the turf in the ninth. Anderson remained in the game. Charlie Strasser, the Dodgers’ assistant trainer, said both are expected to be in the lineup tonight.

Don Sutton, who is 3-5 with a 3.70 earned-run average, figures to be most likely to be demoted when--or if?--Mario Soto’s right shoulder is fit enough to enable him to crack the Dodgers’ starting rotation. But Sutton, who faces the Astros’ Bob Knepper tonight, said he is not concerned by the Dodgers’ move. “(Fred Claire) doesn’t owe me an explanation,” Sutton said of the Dodger executive vice president. “As long as they hand me the ball, I’ll pitch. If not, I’ll go find another job. If I’m in their position and a solidly established pitcher like Soto is available, I’ll try to get him, too. I don’t place any real significance on it, as far as I’m concerned.” . . . What was Pedro Guerrero’s role in Soto’s signing? Guerrero, on the disabled list with neck pain, is a good friend of Soto’s and the two Dominican Republic natives watched Sunday’s Dodger-Red game together. Claire said he consulted Guerrero, but that he did not actively seek his opinion or intervention. “I didn’t talk to Pete in any depth about him,” Claire said. “I don’t believe other players should be involved in personnel matters.” . . . Physical therapist Pat Screnar, who figures to spend a lot of time working with Soto, said he knows little about the pitcher’s condition. “It’s unfair to compare two players (Soto and Alejandro Pena), even if they had similar injuries.”

In a move all the principals said was unrelated to the Soto agreement, Screnar, Claire and pitching coach Ron Perranoski watched Fernando Valenzuela pitch on the side about 20 minutes before Monday night’s game. Valenzuela, who lasted only two-thirds of an inning in his last start, received a good report from Screnar, who said Valenzuela did not mention any physical discomfort. “He threw a lot, and he looked good,” Screnar said. . . . A woman wearing an umpire’s chest protector with “Knepper’s Knightmare” emblazoned across the front paraded in back of the Astros’ dugout before Monday’s game in protest of Knepper’s derogatory comments about women, in general, and the National Organization for Women, in particular. . . . Jay Lucas, media director at UC Santa Barbara since 1983, was named the Dodgers’ assistant director of publicity Monday. Brent Shyer, who had been Mike Williams’ assistant with the Dodgers, will become the team’s director of publications.