Gibson Front and Center After Dodgers Fall to Reds

Can Kirk Gibson play center field in Dodger Stadium?

The Dodgers say yes. Gibson says maybe. The first test may come tonight when the Dodgers again play host to the first-place Cincinnati Reds.

The long-awaited roster move was announced Friday night after the Dodgers lost to Danny Jackson and the Reds, 5-2, before a Dodger Stadium sellout of 48,674.

The victory allowed Cincinnati to rebuild its lead in the National League West to nine games over the Dodgers and San Diego Padres, who lost to the Atlanta Braves, 16-11.

With a roster spot needed for Gibson’s return from surgery on a torn hamstring, the clock ran out on outfielder John Shelby, who was released after going 0 for 4 in the game. He was hitting .250 in 24 at-bats.

Dodger executive vice president Fred Claire said: “The hard part was letting John go, but we needed to make a move.”

Claire, who monitored Gibson’s rehabilitation at triple-A Albuquerque, said Gibson “has been getting close all along. He’s been just a step away. After he worked out today, he felt good. He felt he was ready.”

Gibson sounded less sure, saying it was time to give the leg a test but he’s not recovered 100%. He could be in center tonight against right-hander Jose Rijo.

“I’m still gonna have to wait and see. Hopefully it will make a difference and we’ll win some ballgames,” Gibson said. “If I can keep the inflammation under control, I’ll play. If not, I’ll have to back off. The point in time has come where I’ve done as much as I can do on the (disabled list). It’s time to see if I can . . . work myself back to playing on a daily basis.”

The Reds’ Jackson (1-1), who had surgery twice late last summer, has been waiting as long as Gibson for something good to happen. He won his first game since July 6, pitching a solid 6 2/3 innings before giving way to Rob Dibble, who earned his sixth save and stuck out four of the eight batters he faced.

Dodger starter John Wetteland (1-4) failed to win for the fifth time since taking Orel Hershiser’s spot in the rotation, but he wasn’t hit hard by the Reds. Wetteland gave up only three hits in 4 1/3 innings, but tripped himself with three walks, two wild pitches and two hit batters.

The Dodgers did all their scoring in the second inning, when Mike Sharperson singled and Kal Daniels homered. It was Daniels’ second home run in his last three at-bats against his former Cincinnati teammates.

Eric Davis, who walked to lead off the third inning, scored the Reds’ first run without benefit of a hit, taking advantage of Wetteland’s wildness. Wetteland walked Paul O’Neill and beaned Todd Benzinger to load the bases. Davis scored on Mariano Duncan’s ground ball.

Benzinger stayed in the game and later singled.

The Reds took a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning when Alfredo Griffin erred on Chris Sabo’s grounder, Billy Hatcher singled, a wild pitch moved them to second and third and Barry Larkin doubled them in.

After Jay Howell pitched two uneventful innings, Larkin led off the eighth against Jim Gott with a single and Davis homered deep into the left-field pavilion.

Juan Samuel was the only Dodger other than Daniels to do much damage Friday, collecting three hits, including two doubles. But Samuel twice was stranded on third.

With the Reds threatening to put the West away by July 4, the Dodgers decided it was time to get Gibson’s bat back into the lineup. Gibson, the National League’s most valuable player in 1988, hasn’t played a major league game since July 22.

In his just-completed five-game rehabilitation assignment he hit .429 with a home run and four RBIs for the Dukes. The home run was estimated at more than 500 feet.

His play in center was adventuresome, though he played the position in college at Michigan State and later with the Detroit Tigers.

“Hopefully I’ll make a difference and we’ll win some games,” Gibson said. “I don’t feel any pressure because of this series.”

Dodger Notes

Eddie Murray remained out of the starting lineup Friday with a sore hamstring. Murray has missed four games and pinch-hit in three others. Murray has missed only 63 games out of 2,028 in his 14-year career. . . . Hubie Brooks did not start Friday. The club said he was given permission to attend to a personal matter and arrived at the ballpark after the start of the game.

Juan Samuel was in the lineup despite being hit by pitches twice in Thursday’s game, in the back and on the left wrist. Samuel started the game with 13 hits in his last 31 at-bats (.419) and extended his hitting streak to nine games with a second-inning double. . . . Another hot hitter is Lenny Harris, hitting .426 over the last 15 games. Harris was the team’s top hitter in May, batting .368.

The Dodgers went 14-13 in May and lost 3 1/2 games in the standings to the Reds. The bullpen picked up five saves in the month. The Dodgers hit 23 home runs in May. They’re tied for fifth in the National League with 36 homers. The Mets lead with 51.

Actor John Forsythe announced Friday’s starting lineups over the Dodger Stadium public address system. Forsythe was a PA announcer at Ebbets Field in 1938-40. . . . Also on hand was Carlos Garcia, vice minister for Nicaragua sports. Garcia is attempting to re-establish Little League baseball in his war-torn country. He’s being assisted by Dodger scout and former star pitcher Camilo Pascual.