Howell Ends Unusual Day in Usual Way : Dodgers: Reliever says his three consecutive strikeouts are an aberration this early in the season.

In this most unusual of springs, Dodger relief pitcher Jay Howell had the most unusual of outings Monday. Especially for a guy appearing in only his fourth game since last September.

Facing the Atlanta Braves in the eighth inning with a 2-1 Dodger lead, he struck out Lonnie Smith. And struck out Nick Esasky. And struck out Dale Murphy.

After the Dodgers had won, 2-1, Howell then offered a most unusual explanation.

“It was a fluke, an aberration,” Howell said. “It didn’t happen. I didn’t do it. It’s way too early for something like that.”

It was mentioned that in four innings this spring, Howell has allowed no runs and one hit with five strikeouts.

“I don’t care, I’m not anywhere near where I want to be, not even close,” Howell said. “Must have been because it was hot, the sun was up, the conditions were just right. . . . I don’t know what happened. But that was not me. I’ve only been pitching for two weeks.

“Once the season starts, your average pitcher is not going to be like this. Believe me.”

The Dodgers, who improved their spring record to 4-3, hope he is joking. A week before opening day, they could use some good news from their bullpen.

Howell’s projected partner, Jim Gott, was pulled from his scheduled appearance in a B game against Houston Monday, and is instead scheduled to pitch today in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., against the New York Yankees. Gott, recovering from elbow surgery, said the Dodgers just wanted to allow his arm an extra day of rest before he tries three innings. Yet he is becoming less of a certainty to begin opening day with the team.

Baseball’s agreement Monday to field 27-man rosters until April 30 has possibly given jobs--however temporary--to pitchers Don Aase and Jim Neidlinger, and outfielder John Shelby.

While Aase and Shelby are veterans, it would be Neidlinger’s first big league experience. The right-hander, who was 8-6 with a 4.06 ERA for triple-A Albuquerque last season, was voted the top pitcher in the Venezuelan League this winter.

In his second spring start Monday, he threw five shutout innings against a Houston Astros B team. In his first start last week, he allowed no earned runs in two shutout innings against the New York Mets.

Aase, who the Dodgers feel can be effective in spot relief situations, picked up the save in Monday’s A game 2-1 win against Atlanta with a scoreless inning. He has still allowed four runs in six spring innings, but Dodger officials are counting on his 12 years of big-league experience.

Shelby, battling to forget last year’s .183 average, is batting .313 this spring and will appreciate the extra three weeks to continue his battle with Jose Gonzalez for the fifth outfielder spot.

Kirk Gibson is apparently battling to overcome more than just a surgically repaired knee. On Monday he spoke of a nerve problem in his lower left leg caused by scar tissue from his Aug. 29 knee surgery.

Despite two cortisone shots this winter, he said a lower part of the leg is still numb, although he says it will not affect his hitting or running. “It’s uncomfortable, but I can play with it,” he said. “Maybe this off-season they can get in there and fix it.”

Gibson took another 150 swings in the batting cage Monday, but still has not run the bases because of tenderness in his left knee. He will accompany the team to Los Angeles Wednesday and continue his rehabilitation there, where he can be near the Dodger doctors. For the first time Monday, he mentioned the possibility of playing a couple of games in the minor leagues on a rehabilitation option before coming off the disabled list, which could be as soon as late April.

“They might want to shoot me out someplace for a couple of games before I come back ready to go,” Gibson said.

Pitchers Orel Hershiser and Tim Belcher, scheduled to pitch in the season’s first and second games respectively, will not leave for Los Angeles Wednesday night with the team. They will stay behind and pitch in a minor league game Thursday, and fly out afterward.

The Astros won Monday’s B game, 4-3, but the more important Dodger news was the continued health of Kal Daniels, who played five innings.

Although he went 0 for 3 and has still not been tested on the bases, he ran down a fly ball in left field.

Besides Howell’s heroics in the main game against Atlanta in West Palm Beach, Mike Morgan strengthened his bid for the fifth starting spot by allowing one run in four runnings.

Juan Samuel had a single to extend his spring hitting streak to six games after being shut down in the spring opener.

New Dodger pitcher Terry Wells will make his debut today in Ft. Lauderdale against the New York Yankees. He will follow John Wetteland and Jim Gott, and precede Mike Hartley.

Even if Anaheim’s Billy Bean is sent to triple-A Albuquerque as expected, fans will get to see him in this weekend’s Freeway Series with the Angels, as he will join four other non-roster players in accompanying the team west from Vero Beach Wednesday afternoon--pitchers Don Aase, Jim Neidlinger and Mike Munoz, and outfielder Mike Huff.