Dodgers Come Out Swinging and Beat Cardinals, 14-7

Having survived the early season with all the finesse of back-alley brawlers, the ragged Dodgers unveiled yet another weapon Sunday: the sucker punch.

With the St. Louis Cardinals still adjusting their caps, and many of the 45,895 fans still finding their seats, the Dodgers left their dugout swinging . . . and swinging.

Nine runs later, before the Cardinals had their first chance to swing back, the Dodgers were winners by a first-inning knockout, without throwing a punch. The eventual final score was 14-7.

“You see games like this and you know baseball is crazy, man,” Chris Gwynn said.

Or, at least, irrational. It appeared to be a normal Sunday afternoon at Busch Stadium, with red-bedecked families filling the stands. Then, St. Louis pitcher Jose DeLeon went into his high windup and threw his first pitch.

The only noticeable sounds for the next 22 minutes were the cracks of bats.

Lenny Harris slapped the first pitch for a single. Stan Javier singled. Chris Gwynn singled. Eddie Murray singled.

One out later, Mike Scioscia was hit with a pitch. Juan Samuel singled. Alfredo Griffin doubled.

After John Wetteland’s grounder was the second out, Harris singled again. Javier singled again. Gwynn singled again. Murray singled again.

Hubie Brooks followed with an inning-ending grounder, drawing perhaps the largest sarcastic standing ovation in Busch Stadium since the NFL Cardinals played here.

The mob scene amounted to nine runs on 10 hits with two runners left on base. It was the Dodgers’ biggest scoring-inning since Sept. 12, 1977. And everyone in the clubhouse said it was the first time they had seen a lineup’s first four hitters each go two for two in the first inning.

“We were going so good, Alfredo Griffin was saying that the first guy to make an out has to come out of the game,” Harris said.

That happened. Brooks, who made two outs in the inning, was immediately removed to protect his sore shins. It will probably be the only game this year he gives up his right field spot to a defensive replacement before playing one inning of defense.

At least he was in the game longer than DeLeon, who left after facing just nine batters, allowing seven runs on six hits.

“There were a lot of firsts for a lot of people today,” Murray said, shaking his head.

The Dodgers have won five in a row for the first time this season, outscoring their opponents, 45-17. They have moved four games above .500 for the first time this season, at 24-20. And, because the Cincinnati Reds lost to Montreal, 5-3, the Dodgers have moved to within seven games of first place for the first time since May 10.

It was their first three-game sweep of the Cardinals in Busch Stadium since Aug. 14-16, 1982. Last season, the Dodgers were winless in six games here.

And no, you haven’t missed any roster changes. Starting outfielder Kirk Gibson hasn’t recovered from his injuries yet. Nor has starting third baseman Jeff Hamilton. And while top reliever Jay Howell is active, he is not at full strength.

The Dodgers and Manager Tom Lasorda are accomplishing these things with more street smarts than stars.

The most effective Dodger pitcher was Tim Crews, who, with 3 1/3 scoreless relief innings, earned his first victory since Sept. 11, 1988. The Dodgers’ leading hitter was Stan Javier, whose four hits were two fewer than he had collected in his previous 11 Dodger games combined.

Their leading run producer was Gwynn, who had as many RBIs in the first inning, three, as he has had the entire season.

“This is an example of how the extra guys are getting a chance, and making the most of it,” Gwynn said. “No matter who is playing out there, most of us have a feel for the game because we have been in there recently.”

Said Lasorda: “All I’m trying to do is get these guys some at-bats. Next thing you know, they start getting hits.”

Lasorda may not continue to be so generous with John Wetteland, Sunday’s starter who did not pitch well even with an 11-run lead. In failing to get a win for the fourth time in four starts, Wetteland yielded five runs and five hits in 2 2/3 innings.

Wetteland, who has spent most of this week in bed with the flu, said he felt tired.

“That’s not why we took him out,” pitching coach Ron Perranoski said.

It is not certain that Wetteland will even remain in the rotation, although the Dodgers don’t have much choice. There are no strong candidates at triple-A Albuquerque, and until Gibson returns, the Dodgers have little to offer in a trade for a starting pitcher.

Dodger Notes

Kirk Gibson increased his playing time in center field to five innings Sunday while going one for three with a double and an RBI for the triple-A Albuquerque Dukes in their 16-8 win over Colorado Springs. . . . Pitcher Jim Gott looked out of rhythm in his first game in more than a year Sunday, giving up one run on three consecutive singles in his one inning of relief. “I am extremely pleased to be back in the big leagues, but (because I gave up a run), and I’m not happy,” said Gott, who last pitched on April 6, 1989, for Pittsburgh before going down with elbow problems. . . . Pat Perry, activated last week with Gott following off-season shoulder surgery, looked impressive Sunday, pitching a perfect seventh inning. Perry has yielded one hit in his first three appearances, covering 2 1/3 scoreless innings. . . . Lenny Harris had three hits for the third time in four starts. In his last 11 games, he has 19 hits in 40 at-bats for a .475 average. As a starting third baseman against right-handed pitching, he is 31 for 88 for a .352 average. “I just hope somebody notices how hard I’m playing,” he said. “I know I can’t beat Tommy over the head and tell him to play me every day. I can just go up there swinging and never look back.”

Dodger announcer Jaime Jarrin finally returned to Los Angeles this weekend from the Dodger spring training home in Vero Beach, seven weeks after the rest of the major league team departed. Jarrin had been hospitalized there due to internal injuries suffered in a March 26 auto accident. It is still unknown when he will rejoin to the Spanish language broadcasts on KWKW (1330) radio, although he said he hopes to return following the July 10 All-Star game.