Dodgers Move Within a Game of World Series

The Dodgers, using their standard combination of excellent pitching and Kirk Gibson’s offensive strength, moved one victory away from winning the National League pennant Monday by defeating the New York Mets, 7-4, in Game 5 of the league championship series.

With a victory tonight in Game 6 at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers could advance to the World Series for the first time since 1981. Dodger right-hander Tim Leary opposes David Cone, the Mets’ 20-game winner.

The Dodgers, who received seven solid innings Monday from Tim Belcher and 1 scoreless innings from Brian Holton, will have Jay Howell, their best reliever, available for tonight’s game.

Suspension Cut

Howell met with Bart Giamatti, the National League president, Monday morning for an informal appeal of his three-day suspension for using pine tar, an illegal substance, in his glove in Game 3 on Saturday. Giamatti then reduced Howell’s suspension, which he handed down on Sunday, from three days to two. So, Howell will be eligible to pitch tonight.

Gibson’s availability is not known. The Dodger outfielder, who hit a three-run home run off losing pitcher Sid Fernandez in the fifth inning Monday, aggravated a left hamstring injury while stealing second base in the ninth inning.

Dr. Frank Jobe, the Dodgers’ physician, gave Gibson an injection of cortisone after the game. Jobe would not speculate on the extent of Gibson’s injury, other than to say it was less severe than when he first pulled the hamstring two weeks ago.

“I don’t know if I can play (tonight),” Gibson said. “I know I have a burning desire to play. I’m swinging the bat a little better, and I want to be in there.”

After struggling early in the playoffs, Gibson has homered in each of the last two games. In the 12th inning of Game 4 on Sunday night, Gibson gave the Dodgers a 5-4 win with a bases-empty home run.

His home run Monday increased the Dodgers’ lead to 6-0. Belcher, who allowed four runs and seven hits in seven innings, gave up a three-run home run to Len Dykstra in the fifth inning and a fourth run in the eighth before being replaced.

Thanks to Holton’s strong relief pitching, plus a ninth-inning run on Mike Marshall’s triple, the Dodgers secured a 7-4 lead and pushed the favored Mets a loss away from elimination.

“I really think this is a team destined to win,” Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda said of his team. “I think the Mets have the best team in the National League. But we are beating them.”

However, Lasorda’s optimism remained guarded.

“We still need one more win,” he said.

Details in Sports.