ALL-STAR GAME : Those Shadows Proved to Be No Help to NL Pitchers

Here’s the pitching lineup National League Manager Tom Lasorda tossed--underhand, it turns out--to the American Leaguers during the first three innings of Tuesday night’s All-Stargame:

--Rick Reuschel, San Francisco Giants. Lasorda didn’t exactly specify how many innings Reuschel would remain on the mound, but the conventional wisdom had him lasting awhile. “I knew it was going to be one or two (innings), but I didn’t know which,” Reuschel said.

Now he knows; it was one.

AL leadoff man Bo Jackson hit a ball that sailed far beyond the Anaheim Stadium center-field fence and into the dusk, followed soon by a more modest homer by Wade Boggs. Not long after that, Reuschel was seated permanently on the NL bench.

--John Smoltz, Atlanta Braves. All you need to know about Smoltz’s stay is that he said this afterward: “Thank God I don’t pitch in this ballpark.”

Smoltz’s inning was highlighted by more Bo antics, two hits and another AL run. “Hey, I faced five, got three out, so that’s the way I look at it,” Smoltz said.

--Rick Sutcliffe, Chicago Cubs. Sutcliffe wasn’t even supposed to be here. He spent Monday fishing and golfing with friends when he learned National League president Bill White was looking for him to replace Houston Astro pitcher Mike Scott on the All-Star roster. “I thought it was a joke at the beginning,” he said. “My buddies are always trying to get one up on me.”

Less than 24 hours later, Sutcliffe, who had already pitched twice in the last five days, was on the mound getting waxed by greedy AL hitters. Four hits and two runs later, the third inning was mercifully over for the tired Cub.

“My arm’s kind of dead right now,” he said. “I’m going to have to find a way to comb my hair first.”

Three pitchers, three innings, a second consecutive AL All-Star victory.

It was supposed to be a game affected by the long shadows that creep across the field during late afternoon and early evening. Balls would dart in and out of the sunlight, enough so to baffle the best hitters in both leagues.

Yes, well, it didn’t quite work out that way. AL starter Dave Stewart discovered that much in his half of the first when he allowed two runs. But it was the trio of Reuschel, Smoltz and Sutcliffe who suffered the most. Reuschel served up those two home runs. Smoltz was named the losing pitcher. And Sutcliffe has to learn new grooming methods, what with a right arm that wasn’t planning to do anything more strenuous this All-Star break than plucking beers from a cooler.

First, Reuschel, who said the pitch that Jackson deposited in the center field seats was low, way low, a claim later supported by NL teammates.

“It was on top of the plate,” said Dodger reliever Jay Howell.

So low was the pitch that when Jackson connected, “it looked like a Jack Nicklaus drive,” Howell said.

Reuschel didn’t bother looking at Jackson’s hit, mostly because he expected it to land in a glove, not the cheap seats. “He showed me something,” Reuschel said.

Next came Boggs, whose homer traveled considerably less, but counted the same.

“I was just trying to throw a strike,” Reuschel said.

Smoltz took his place in the second inning, which is to say, he struggled at times. First pitch . . . a single by Texas Ranger Ruben Sierra.

“That wasn’t fair,” Smoltz said. “He’s not supposed to swing at the first pitch.”

An out later, Terry Steinbach singled, bringing up Jackson, who beat out what would have been a sure double play with most runners. Sierra scored on the play, sticking Smoltz with a run and ultimately, an All-Star loss.

“Hey, facing some of those guys, it was kind of a dream come true,” he said.

Sutcliffe didn’t know how to explain his appearance. One moment he’s on the links, the next he’s on the mound. His arm didn’t know what hit him.

“My arm’s not used to pitching three times in five days,” he said. “I guess I better stick to starting.”

Sutcliffe knew he was in trouble during his warmups. One version of his fastball did nothing, so he tried another. Even worse. Little changed when he trudged out there for the third inning.

“It was the best I had,” he said. “I knew I didn’t have much.”

Turns out he wasn’t alone.