Randolph Goes Home, Goes Deep to Help Dodgers Beat Mets, 5-4

He had not hit a home run in nearly a year. His Dodgers had not won a game since Thursday, and were one out from losing again.

But this was his boyhood home. In the stands were his people. The stadium across town belonged to his old major league team.

And for one pitch, with one brief swing, Willie Randolph found the strength to hammer out a dream.

With two out in the ninth inning Sunday, Randolph hit a three-run homer off New York Mets’ reliever Don Aase to help the Dodgers to a 5-4 victory before 45,031 at Shea Stadium.

After the line drive flew over the 358 sign in right field, Randolph stuck his head down and dashed around the bases. He said later he was running from his memories.

“It was all very quiet and very weird,” Randolph said. “As I was rounding second base, for a second, I almost felt bad. I had grown up coming to Mets games, I remember one of my first games, Billy Williams (of the Chicago Cubs) beat the Mets with a homer, and it was terrible.

“It wasn’t until I crossed home plate that I finally realized what I did.”

He was grabbed by Alfredo Griffin, who had been on first base. He was nearly tackled by Lenny Harris, who had been on second base.

“Then all the stuff that had been bottled up inside me, it was all brought out,” Randolph said.

He knocked Harris back with a high five. He attempted to high-five Jose Gonzalez, but missed his hand and smacked him in the face. Then when he finally reached the dugout, he received a different sort of thrill.

“For the the first time, Tommy Lasorda hugged me,” Randolph said.

The celebration stopped long enough for the Dodgers to get a couple of more hits and a run to take a 5-3 lead over the Mets entering the ninth.

Then the feeling was nearly lost. Jay Howell, attempting to break the Dodgers’ single-season record for saves after not pitching for a week, almost gave the runs back. He gave up a run after two pitches (Dave Magadan’s double, Mackey Sasser’s single). The tying run advanced to second base before Greg Jefferies grounded to first baseman Eddie Murray to end the game.

“It wasn’t pretty,” Howell said. “After the first batter, I expected the umpire to call time out and put a protective screen in front of the mound.”

Nonetheless, Howell earned his 25th save to pass Jim Brewer (1970) and Jim Hughes (1954) for the all-time mark. The Dodgers had a ninth-inning comeback victory for just the third time this season. And Randolph had some new memories.

“I always dreamed of hitting a homer in Shea,” said Randolph, who grew up in Brooklyn and played 13 years for the New York Yankees before signing with the Dodgers last winter. “This was like my second home here. I was a big, big Mets fan. This is where I first watched the game.

“And to come back and hit a homer . . . that makes it one of my greatest thrills. When the Mets go on to win their division, they will forget all about this tiny little homer. But I won’t.”

The Mets may forget it. But not any time soon.

“We won’t have to look back to see this as a big loss,” Magadan said. “It’s a big loss right now.”

Entering the day 2 1/2 games behind the National League East-leading Chicago Cubs--who lost in Houston--the Mets played for 8 2/3 innings like pennant contenders. Sid Fernandez gave up only one run--Eddie Murray’s 15th homer--and scattered six hits over 6 2/3 innings. Homers by Howard Johnson (30) and Kevin McReynolds (16) off rookie Ramon Martinez gave them all the punch they thought they needed.

But with stopper Randy Myers unavailable because he pitched in the last two games here, the Mets needed Aase for the final two innings. After he retired pinch-hitter Billy Bean on a grounder and Mike Scioscia on a fly out in the ninth inning, it appeared he would get his third save.

But Harris, batting for Alejandro Pena (3-2), hit a single to left. Then Griffin set up Randolph’s home run with a bunt single that rolled between Aase and first baseman Magadan.

“I look down and see that they aren’t playing me for the bunt--I haven’t bunted this series--so they probably thought I forgot,” Griffin said. “I saw them sleeping, and I took advantage.”

After such a weird play, and with the tying runs on base, Aase was shaken. Up stepped Randolph.

“You could tell from his first pitch to Randolph that all he wanted to do was get the ball over the plate,” said Harris, who was watching from second base. “He threw it a lot harder than he threw to me. And he threw it right down the middle.”

Five seconds later, it was gone.

“I knew Randolph could go to right field,” Aase said. “But I didn’t know he could go there with such power.”

Said Randolph: “Tell him, surprise! “

It was his first homer in 536 at-bats, since last August 29 in Seattle. This dry spell is why, after the game, Randolph pointed into the stands and shouted.

“I was yelling at my son Andre (age 8),” Randolph said. “He’s been saying, ‘Daddy, when are you going to hit a home run?’ He’s been dogging me all year.”

While the rest of the team flew to Montreal late Sunday afternoon, Randolph stayed behind. He was going to his New Jersey home to see his father, who missed the game because he was cooking Randolph’s favorite dinner.

“Everybody has treated me so nice here,” Randolph said. “Every time I have come back this year, the fans have been so good to me.”

He paused and smiled. “I guess that will end.”

Dodger Notes

Jay Howell’s record-breaking save came 13 days after he tied the record. It was his longest period between saves this season. “I’m just glad to get it over with,” Howell said. “Now it isn’t something we have to talk about. Now the monkey is off my back.” Howell repeated his recent statements about the record--”It’s something I have thought about, but something I’ll think about much more later, after the season.” Oddly, the save came after he gave up a run for the first time since July 21, a span of eight appearances. He said he was surprised to be needed in the ninth. “A three-run homer by Willie Randolph to give us the lead? No,” he said. “A line drive, fine. But nobody expected a homer.”

Howard Johnson’s 30th homer in the first inning Sunday ensured him at least 30 homers and at least 30 stolen bases (32) for the second time in his career. He becomes the third player to reach the 30-30 club more than once--Willie Mays and Bobby Bonds are the others. Bonds did it five times. “I was hoping we’d win the game, then I could enjoy it,” Johnson said. . . . Franklin Stubbs’ injured knee has been re-diagnosed as having a torn cartilage. He will undergo surgery Aug. 29 and be out until spring training. He will be replaced today by Dave Hansen, a .298-hitting infielder recalled from double-A San Antonio. But Hansen will probably be sent down Tuesday when Mickey Hatcher (strained hamstring) comes off the disabled list. Stubbs was hitting .291 with four homers and 15 RBIs in 103 at-bats. He batted .333 in 22 starts spread between first base and the outfield. . . . After allowing two homers Sunday, rookie Ramon Martinez has given up 10 in 49 2/3 innings this season, including five in his last 14 2/3 innings. Orel Hershiser has given up eight homers in 149 more innings.