Dodgers Put Trip in Drive : 3rd Win in Row at Pittsburgh Makes Them 9-3 on Road

To the Dodgers, this lengthy trip has taken on neither the aspects of a death march nor a pleasant summer jaunt. It has been more like intense survival training--16 games in 14 days--under all types of adverse conditions.

But instead of packing canned goods and rubber bed sheets, the only provisions the Dodgers have needed are a stable of strong arms and, as reliever Jay Howell said, a supply of Tylenol to treat those arms. For it has been starting pitching and unceasing bullpen help, not offense, that so far has enabled the Dodgers to thrive.

Sunday afternoon, the Dodgers completed the third segment of their four-city trip with a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, who had won 12 of 13 before the Dodgers took the last three games of this four-game series.

With the Dodgers’ offensive resources limited because of John Shelby’s eye injury and Pedro Guerrero’s continued absence, starter Shawn Hillegas allowed only a home run to Andy Van Slyke in six innings and the trio of short relievers--Alejandro Pena, Jesse Orosco and Jay Howell--successfully held off the Pirates.

It was an impressive end to an impressive series in what is shaping up as a memorable trip. The Dodgers are 9-3 on the trip and 32-16 overall on the road. This latest road show, however, is far from over. Next stop is San Francisco, where the Dodgers will play four games in three days starting with a game tonight. But the Dodgers could not be in much better shape. Their National League West lead is 6 games over the second-place Houston Astros and 7 over the third-place Giants. When the Dodgers began this trip July 14, they had only a 2 1/2-game lead.

In the Dodgers’ nine wins on this trip--plus a 2-2 eight-inning tie that was rained out--they have allowed a total of only 14 runs. In the 3 losses, they have given up 14 runs, counting the 8 runs allowed in Fernando Valenzuela’s most recent outing. Offensively, in this span, the Dodgers have averaged only 3.46 runs.

“Heck, we could be 3-9 on this road trip if it hadn’t been for the pitching,” catcher Mike Scioscia said. “We’re winning, but we still aren’t getting the offense that we have to. Don’t get me wrong: We’ve earned all these wins. But we don’t have that offensive machine working.” Sunday was no different. Though Shawn Hillegas had trouble with his location, he managed to hold a 1-0 Dodger lead on Steve Sax’s run-scoring single off Brian Fisher (6-7) until the sixth inning, when Van Slyke belted a changeup well over the right-field fence to tie it.

Hillegas’ only other shaky inning was the fourth, when right fielder Mike Marshall made a spectacular running catch on the warning track with two out and a runner on third.

It didn’t stay tied long, though. The Dodgers scratched out a run in the seventh, Sax again providing a run-scoring single off reliever Jeff Robinson with two out and runners on first and second after consecutive walks.

With the 2-1 lead, Manager Tom Lasorda turned to his bullpen, which collectively has as many saves (32) as all last season.

First in was Pena, who gave up a single and a walk in the seventh inning but pitched out of it. Orosco began the eighth and left with two out and Barry Bonds at second base and productive switch-hitter Bobby Bonilla up.

Right-hander Howell was summoned to pitch to Bonilla, who hits 48 points lower from the left side. Bonilla popped up the first pitch to end the inning. Howell then retired the side in the ninth for his team-high 12th save.

“I think the road trip has worked out well because of the tremendous pitching, especially the starters,” Howell said. “The starting pitching has pulled us through early, and we’ve done a lot of good work in the bullpen. We ended up going through a bottle of Tylenol, but I think (the bullpen) is in good shape now.”

Just as the relievers were crediting the starters, Hillegas gave thanks to the bullpen for holding onto the victory, his third in five decisions but first since June 27.

“It’s been outstanding all year,” Hillegas said of the relief pitching. “It’s kind of nice to look in the bullpen and see that they can bring in whoever they want and the job will be done. Today was another group effort by the pitching staff.”

Hillegas has remained in the rotation because of Don Sutton’s elbow injury. But Sutton pitched well in a rehabilitative start in the minor leagues Saturday night, so Hillegas’ status is unknown. It’s likely Sutton will make another rehabilitative start, but Hillegas needed a win to help himself.

“I’ll tell you the truth, I never had (my) rhythm in the first four innings,” Hillegas said. “And I just made the mistake of throwing a changeup to Van Slyke. Good thing it was only a solo home run. But the guys came through and got me a run the next inning.”

Dodger runs are to be cherished these days. Sunday, they had 8 hits off 4 Pirate pitchers, 3 by Sax, 2 each by Mike Davis and Dave Anderson and 1 by Jeff Hamilton.

If Lasorda is concerned about the offensive drought, he isn’t showing it.

“I’ll tell you about these guys,” Lasorda said. “They’ve played hard and haven’t quit. We haven’t scored a lot of runs. But what we’ve done, more than anything, is get a lot of big hits. That’s all we’ve needed with our pitching.”

Scioscia, however, fretted that the time may come when the offense is needed. After all, not even the Dodgers’ excellent pitching of late can dominate at unpredictable Candlestick Park, where the Dodgers’ survival skills will be put to a major test.

“Record-wise, we’re going into Candlestick in great shape,” Scioscia said. “You can’t ask for more than a five- (now six-) game lead. As for our team, the pitching is in great shape, and we’re executing on defense. But the offense is not where it’s supposed to be.

“We can’t complain, because we’re winning. But we also can’t expect everything to fall in place, like it has. Now, we go to San Francisco, and we have to put it all together. We can’t let up and think our mission has been accomplished.”

Dodger Notes

In the eighth inning Sunday, center fielder John Shelby made his return after being hit Wednesday with a ricocheting foul ball in St. Louis. Shelby grounded out in the ninth, his only at-bat. Afterward, he said he had no vision problems at the plate and that he might wear goggles tonight in San Francisco.

ROAD, SWEET ROAD

The Dodgers have won 9 of 12 games on this road trip:

Date Score July 14 Dodgers 1, Cubs 0 Dodgers 6, Cubs 3 July 15 Dodgers 3, Cubs 2 (10 innings) July 17 Dodgers 4, Cubs 1 Dodgers 5, Cubs 2 July 18 Dodgers 1, Cardinals 0 July 19 Cardinals 3, Dodgers 2 July 20 Cardinals 8, Dodgers 7 July 21 Pirates 3, Dodgers 2 July 22 Dodgers 4, Pirates 2 July 23 Dodgers 6, Pirates 2 July 24 Dodgers 2, Pirates 1