Scioscia Strikes Blows for All-Star Mention

Several days ago, Mike Scioscia was asked if he was considering the possibility that he could earn a spot on the National League All-Star team.

“Are you kidding me . . . am I thinking about what ?” Scioscia said. “Are they even playing an All-Star game this year?”

Hearing that, you would think he is almost a better actor than run-producer, a trait he exhibited again Wednesday with a home run and a two-run single in leading the Dodgers to a 3-2 victory over the Houston Astros.

Before 31,376 at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers won their fifth consecutive game, equaling their season-best winning streak. They remain 10 games behind Cincinnati, where they travel today to being a three-game series Friday.

“This is a different team than a couple of weeks ago,” Scioscia said in a happy clubhouse afterward.

And in more ways than just victories. The Dodgers were shaken Wednesday not just by Scioscia, but by a successful bullpen effort and a postgame transaction in which John Wetteland was finally sent to the minor leagues.

The bullpen provided the first excitement, after starting pitcher Ramon Martinez left the game leading, 3-2, in the seventh inning with and Rafael Ramirez on second and two out.

Rookie reliever Jim Poole allowed an infield single by Javier Ortiz and was replaced by reliever Tim Crews, who retired Glenn Wilson on a fly ball to center field to end the inning.

Jay Howell entered in the eighth and pitched two scoreless innings for his second save in three days and fourth of the season.

After entering the game with as many blown saves--nine--as total saves, the bullpen is finally being discussed in voices louder than a whisper.

“Jay Howell is back,” Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda boomed. “And with him back, everyone else down there falls into their proper place.”

With the exception of Wetteland, who was sent to triple-A Albuquerque. Infielder Jose Vizcaino was recalled. The move will not affect the Dodger starting lineup. Vizcaino, batting .276 at Albuquerque, will serve as a late-inning defensive replacement and pinch-hitter.

The Dodgers wanted to make the move last week, considering they have had 11 pitchers, one over the normal complement. But because of the bullpen uncertainty, they could not afford to send anybody out. Until now.

“I was not stunned by it. There was a reason why we were going with a four-man starting rotation and not using me, even though I am a starting pitcher,” said Wetteland, who was 2-4 with a 6.12 earned-run average. “I need to get some good innings as a starting pitcher, so I’ll be fine. And I’ll be back.”

The Dodgers, who are hoping to return to five starting pitchers after the All-Star break in three weeks, hope so.

Scioscia, batting .259, hit a two-out, full-count, bases-loaded single in the third inning off Astro starter Jim Clancy for two runs, then added his eighth homer in the sixth inning, giving him 28 runs batted in.

In his nine full major league seasons, Scioscia has never had more than 10 homers or 53 RBIs. Not only is he a leading candidate to make the All-Star team for a second time, with leading vote-getter Benito Santiago of San Diego sidelined with a broken arm, Scioscia could even get a chance to start. He is second in fan balloting to Santiago.

Scioscia supported Martinez, who struck out 10 batters in 6 2/3 innings to increase his major league-leading total to 112, which equals his career total in parts of two previous big league seasons. Martinez is 6-0 at Dodger Stadium and improved to 8-3 overall with a 2.78 ERA.

Thanks to Scioscia, the Dodgers scored their first runs as dramatically as a team can in the third inning. With one out, Stan Javier extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a single off the glove of shortstop Ramirez. One out later Eddie Murray walked and Hubie Brooks was hit by a pitch. It was only the second time Clancy--who does not usually pitch inside--has hit a batter in his two seasons with the Astros.

With the bases loaded, the crowd rose to its feet as Scioscia watched three balls. Clancy threw a strike. Then Scioscia fouled a ball down the first-base line.

With the count full, the crowd screaming and the runners moving, Scioscia bounced a ball back through the mound and into center field for a two-run single. Scioscia has three hits in seven at-bats with the bases loaded this season, with eight RBIs.

Dodger Notes

Manager Tom Lasorda and club vice president Fred Claire flew to Albuquerque Wednesday to watch the Dukes play Portland in a day game. Their eyes were on potential fifth starting pitcher Jeff Bittiger, who pitched for the triple-A Dukes against Portland. Bittiger allowed five earned runs in seven innings in a 6-3 Portland victory. Bittiger, a right-hander who has been released by three organizations in an 11-year pro career, is 7-4 with a 3.75 ERA. . . . The Dodger contingent was more impressed with catcher Darrin Fletcher, who is second in the Pacific Coast League with a .350 average, trailing only teammate Jose Offerman (.364). . . . Kirk Gibson, with a strained groin, remains on a day-to-day basis. . . . Former Oklahoma football coach Barry Switzer visited the Dodger clubhouse while on assignment for an Oklahoma cable television station. Several players chatted with Switzer, including former Oklahoma wide receiver Mickey Hatcher.