Dodgers Win One, but Lose Valenzuela : Hershiser Stops the Losing Streak Against Astros, 6-1

Into a Sunday saturated with adversity, which included the unprecedented disabling of Fernando Valenzuela and the temporary loss of Pedro Guerrero, the Dodgers sent out Orel Hershiser to try to end a three-game losing streak and avoid being swept by the Houston Astros.

A more suitable choice for the assignment could not have been ordered. In addition to Hershiser’s effective sinking fastball and unceasing control, he also has been particularly effective against the Astros, the Dodgers’ closest divisional rival.

With the opportunity to end the Dodgers’ streak and reclaim a 4 1/2-game lead in the National League West, Hershiser was once again dominating. He shut out the Astros for eight innings and enabled the Dodgers to temporarily leave their troubles behind with a 6-1 victory in front of 44,811 at Dodger Stadium.

“That was an awfully big game today,” catcher Rick Dempsey said. “But we had the right guy out there. I can’t say enough about Orel. He never lets them get the big hit. Of all the good pitchers we have, Orel has been the most consistent.”

The Astros, who are 0-3 and have a .132 team batting average against Hershiser this season, don’t need to be reminded. So spooked were some of the Astros by Hershiser’s presence on the mound that Jim Deshaies, Sunday’s starter, and teammate Nolan Ryan tried to put a curse on Hershiser’s head Sunday morning in the visitor’s clubhouse.

Using a book on witchcraft that Deshaies bought last week in San Diego to help end an 11-game losing streak, Ryan and Deshaies drew circles in red ink and recited chants in hopes of breaking this spell that Hershiser has had over Astro hitters.

“It’s about time Orel got his rear kicked,” said Ryan, laughing, before the game.

After Hershiser limited the Astros to five hits and was threatened only once before the ninth, Ryan shrugged and said: “I guess we’ll have to try something else.”

While the Astros tried to rid themselves of the dominant Hershiser, the Dodger starter was trying to exorcise a few demons that were threatening to interrupt his team’s ride atop the West. The Astros and the San Francisco Giants, who swept a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves Sunday, are both 4 1/2 games behind.

Dodger Stadium has almost been like a haunted house for the Dodgers this season. They were 25-25 at home--34-18 on the road--coming into Sunday’s game. They were carrying a three-game losing streak for the seventh time this season, and Hershiser made sure the streak once again did not extend to four games.

In the process, Hershiser reinforced the belief of some--including the Baseball America publication--that he is the National League’s best pitcher. Sunday’s victory improved Hershiser’s record to 15-5. He is tied with Greg Maddux of the Chicago Cubs for the league’s most victories. He also ranks in the top 10 in earned-run average (2.59), complete games (7), innings pitched (170) and strikeouts (111).

More important than statistics, Hershiser’s continued excellence Sunday seemed to somewhat dampen the pennant hopes of the Astros, who were feeling confident after winning the first two games of the series to pull within 3 1/2 games.

“We believe in ourselves, and we know we aren’t going to have any long losing streaks,” Hershiser said. “But the big difference between being 2 1/2 up and 4 1/2 up is that we didn’t want Houston to catch momentum. We didn’t want the other club to believe in themselves.”

Hershiser made a believer of the Astros earlier in the season, pitching a two-hit shutout June 29 in Houston and notching a 4-2 victory June 9 at Dodger Stadium. But he reinforced it again Sunday.

“He’s definitely one of the top two or three (pitchers) in the league,” said second baseman Bill Doran, who had two of the Astros’ five hits Sunday. “I can’t think of anyone more consistent. He has real good movement on his fastball, and he has a real good curveball. Every time we see him, it’s the same stuff. He never seems to have a bad game against us.

“If it came down to one game where you’d either win the whole thing or lose the whole thing, that’s the guy I’d want out there if I were the Dodgers. You never have to hold your breath with him out there. He very seldom makes mistakes.”

Even when Hershiser makes mistakes, he usually is able to correct them.

With two out in the top of the third inning of a scoreless game, Astro leadoff man Gerald Young hit a triple to right field. But Hershiser forced Doran to ground weakly to first base to end the threat.

After that, the Astros did not advance a runner past first base until the ninth inning, when the Dodgers had a 6-0 lead and Hershiser could afford to ease up a little.

“I think the key to my success in ’88 is that I’ve been consistent and I’ve gotten the runs,” Hershiser said. “When Young got that triple, I went right after Doran because I knew we’d score runs later. In the past, if we don’t score and I give up a run in that situation, I might lose.”

Although the Dodger offense has struggled since the All-Star break, they were able to score 5 runs in 6 innings off Deshaies (7-8) and add another in the eighth inning off reliever Dave Meads.

Deshaies gave up three runs in the fourth inning, courtesy of three walks, two singles and a fielding error by left fielder Terry Puhl. John Shelby’s single to left scored two runs, and Dempsey’s sacrifice fly scored the third. Against Meads in the eighth, Dempsey added a second run batted in with a double that scored Tracy Woodson.

Deshaies, who had a four-game win streak against the Dodgers snapped, said that pitching against Hershiser made him pitch differently.

“Going against a pitcher like (Hershiser), you have a tendency to do things you normally don’t try to do,” Deshaies said. “He’s one of the best pitchers we’ve faced all year. You know it’s going to be a low-scoring game, and sometimes you try to pitch too fine.”

As far as the Dodgers were concerned, Hershiser pitched just fine.

“I don’t look at being a stopper or anything,” Hershiser said. “If I get the runs, I can win. I just go out and do my job.”

That’s what the Astros were afraid of.

Dodger Notes

Several Dodger players, including catcher Rick Dempsey and pitcher Orel Hershiser, said Sunday that the Dodgers are in need of a left-handed starter because Fernando Valenzuela has been put on the 21-day disabled list. “If we are fortunate enough to win our division and play either New York or Pittsburgh, it’s important that we have a left-hander,” Hershiser said. “I guess I shouldn’t have said that. It ruins our bargaining position now.” The Dodgers reportedly have been interested in Toronto left-hander Mike Flanagan. But the Blue Jays apparently want at least one young Dodger prospect, believed to be outfielder Mike Devereaux, in exchange for Flanagan. . . . Sunday was Hershiser’s first complete game since June 29, when he shut out the Astros in Houston. . . . Kirk Gibson on the Dodgers’ growing injury situation: “I don’t think Houston, Cincinnati or San Francisco feel sorry for us. I know when they get guys hurt, I don’t feel sorry for them. I don’t send them get-well cards.” . . . The Astros have never swept a three-game series from the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Said second baseman Bill Doran: “You can be satisfied with two out of three, but the fact it could have been three out of three is disappointing.”