Morgan Propels Dodgers Past Mets

Call it a stitch in time.

The Dodgers--in the process of a 2-1 victory over the New York Mets on a combined seven-hitter by Mike Morgan and Jay Howell--did.

Faced with the imminent return of Alfredo Griffin from the disabled list and the possibility that they would have to return Chris Gwynn to Albuquerque or release Mike Davis and swallow the remainder of his $987,500 salary, the grateful Dodgers were presented an easier option Saturday night and jumped at it.

Shortstop Mariano Duncan, in fielding a second-inning grounder hit by Kevin Elster and turning it into a double play, suffered a cut between the ring finger and little finger of his right hand.

Dr. Frank Jobe needed three stitches to close it, and the Dodgers announced Duncan would require two weeks to recuperate. It isn’t known whether he will fly back to the Dominican Republic, but he was put on the 15-day disabled list and Griffin was activated.

Having avoided a more difficult roster decision, Dodger brass sat back and watched Morgan continue a remarkable metamorphosis.

A year ago he was 0-5 when sent to the Baltimore Oriole bullpen. He came to the Dodgers this spring with the worst career percentage--based on a 34-68 record--among active pitchers.

Now he is 4-2 and leading the major leagues with an earned-run average of 1.19. And in defeating the Mets for the second time in the last 12 days, he struck out a career-high total of nine batters, walked three and came within one out of his first complete game since August of 1988 and his first shutout since September of 1987.

A Dodger Stadium crowd of 47,083 saw Morgan, nursing a 2-0 lead, retire the first two batters in the ninth before Howard Johnson tripled into the right-field corner and Dave Magadan followed with a single to put the Mets within a run and send Morgan off to a standing ovation.

Keith Miller ran for Magadan and stole second, but Howell, who has not allowed a run in his last 14 1/3 innings, retired Mackey Sasser on a grounder to second for his ninth save.

It would have been easier for Morgan and Howell, but the Dodgers stranded 14 runners in failing to take advantage of 11 hits and five walks off starter Sid Fernandez (4-2) and three successors.

Met left fielder Mookie Wilson took a home run away from Eddie Murray with a leaping catch in front of the bullpen gate in the third, one of two innings in which the Dodgers managed to score solo runs.

Jeff Hamilton scored them both, and Dave Anderson, who replaced Duncan and carried a .118 average that put him among the candidates to be moved when Griffin was activated, played a role in both.

Hamilton opened the second inning with a single. Anderson drew a one-out walk. Morgan bunted safely to load the bases, and Willie Randolph singled to score Hamilton.

Randolph had three hits and is batting .301 over his last 20 games, but he was three for 28 with runners in scoring position before delivering against Fernandez.

Hamilton came back to single again with two outs in the third. Mike Scioscia then hit a fly to shallow right center, where Darryl Strawberry crossed in front of Lenny Dykstra, apparently blocking Dykstra’s view long enough that the center fielder dropped the ball on a backhand attempt at the catch, drawing an error that perpetuated the inning for Anderson, who singled to score Hamilton again.

That was the substance of the Dodger attack, but it was enough for Morgan, who was the talk of both clubhouses.

“He has great movement,” Dykstra said. “I can’t pick his pitches up.”

Said Met Manager Dave Johnson, whose team has scored two runs off Morgan in 16 1/3 innings: “His fastball inside was really handcuffing us. The guys were coming back shaking their heads.”

Said Jay Howell, who saw Morgan during his struggling years in the American League: “The movement on his fastball is so much better now. It moves so much that you can see the left-handed hitters jump back from the plate. It starts inside, then comes back over the plate.”

Dodger pitching coach Ron Perranoski changed Morgan’s grip on his fastball in spring training to improve the movement. The result is seen in his impressive statistical line. Is Morgan disappointed that it doesn’t include a shutout.

“I can’t be disappointed,” he said. “I gave it my best, and a win is a win. They’ve come awfully tough for me in my career. Besides, you’re not losing anything when you give the ball to Jay Howell.”

The Dodgers lost Duncan, who was among those seemingly surprised by his appointment to the disabled list.

“I didn’t want to go on the DL, but what can you say,” he said. “The doctor said eight to 10 days, and Alfredo is about ready. They (management) made the decision. There’s nothing I can do about it.”

Dodger Notes

Met catcher Gary Carter, on the disabled list since May 12 with inflammation in his right knee, will fly to Birmingham, Ala., today to be examined Monday by Dr. James Andrews. If Andrews confirms other medical views, Carter will have arthroscopic surgery. . . . Kevin McReynolds remained out of the Met lineup with a sprained right thumb . . . The dieting Tom Lasorda is down to 180 pounds, a loss of 38.