Leary Looks Weary in Dodger Loss to Padres

Bill Russell managed. Only two regulars started. And Tom Lasorda, he yakked in the radio booth, schmoozed in the press box and spent the rest of the time walking around like a fan in a souvenir uniform.

Tuesday night at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium for the newly crowned National League West champion Dodgers was all very post-clinching cool. Except for one thing.

Struggling Tim Leary pitched. And Leary was socked, leading to the Dodgers’ downfall in an 8-4 loss to the San Diego Padres before 13,235 fans.

One of four pitchers apparently informed earlier in the day by Lasorda that he would be in the playoff rotation, Leary acted as if he had just been told he was being released. The game wasn’t 6 batters old when he had already given up 4 hits and 3 runs. It wasn’t 45 minutes old when Brian Holton was warming up in the bullpen.

By the time Leary departed in the fourth inning with 2 out and Carmelo Martinez on third base, he had allowed 6 runs. Ricky Horton came on and allowed a single to Marvell Wynne to score Martinez and make Leary’s totals for 3 innings look like this: 8 hits, 7 runs, 6 earned runs.

“He hasn’t pitched well, we know that,” Lasorda said in a rare understatement.

The only thing more rotten than Leary’s pitch location was his timing. It came shortly after Lasorda announced one-half of his playoff rotation, while leaving little doubt as to the makeup of the other half.

In Game 1 at Dodger Stadium Tuesday night at 5, it will be Orel Hershiser against New York’s Dwight Gooden. In Game 2 at Dodger Stadium Wednesday night at 7--a change from the previous noon starting time because of the nationally televised vice presidential debate--it will be John Tudor against the Mets’ David Cone.

Lasorda would not announce the starters for Games 3 or 4 next weekend in New York, but he held a pregame meeting with his playoff starters, and besides Hershiser and Tudor, also in attendance were Leary and Tim Belcher. Because of Leary’s struggles, Belcher has become the favorite to face Ron Darling in Game 3, which would leave Leary to face Sid Fernandez in Game 4.

The only reason the makeup of the rotation would change is if Belcher was needed in relief in one of the previous games, and then Hershiser would come back to start on three days’ rest.

Leary, 17-10 with a 2.98 earned-run average, didn’t stick around the clubhouse afterward to confirm it but, yes, Lasorda thinks he is pitching weary.

“I think he’s tired, he had over 100 innings in winter ball . . . He has to be tired,” Lasorda said. “We have to give him rest, and critique what he’s doing wrong, and hope to get him back on the right track.”

Meanwhile, the Padres were led by a pitcher heading the other direction. Eric Show won for the ninth time in his last 10 decisions, and for a second straight time over the Dodgers. His 16 wins (with 11 losses) are a career high.

Dodger Notes

Dodger players will meet before tonight’s game to determine playoff shares. Twenty-one players are assured full shares, and they will vote on full or partial shares for players such as Fernando Valenzuela, who was on the disabled list for 2 months, Pedro Guerrero, injured and then traded, Don Sutton, released in August, and John Tudor, acquired in August.

Coach Bill Russell made out the lineup Tuesday night, resting all the regulars except Jeff Hamilton and Franklin Stubbs. Manager Tom Lasorda said that tonight, when pitcher Orel Hershiser tries to equal Don Drysdale’s record of 58 consecutive scoreless innings, most of the regulars will be in the lineup. . . . Valenzuela, who pitched 3 innings Monday night for the first time since July 30 and gave up a 2-run homer to Randy Ready, said he felt stiffness in his left shoulder and arm. But Valenzuela most likely will start Saturday. If he pitches well in that test, the Dodgers may include him on the playoff roster.