Dodgers Get Fast Start in Beating Who-Are-Theys?

The hobbled San Francisco Giants took the field against the Dodgers Monday as a collective argument for putting first names on uniforms.

There was a guy playing first base named Leach. A guy on second named Litton. One in right field named Leonard. The catcher was Manwaring.

The Dodgers, countering with guys named Murray, Brooks and Daniels, needed only two innings to show what you don’t know can’t hurt you.

Using home runs by Eddie Murray and Hubie Brooks and a two-run double by Kal Daniels, the Dodgers scored nine runs in the first two innings in winning, 11-1, before 42,202.

“They had a different lineup, for sure,” said Mike Sharperson, whose Dodgers had not seen the Giants since April 30.

He shrugged: “But I don’t think we dwelled on it.”

The third-place Dodgers are now beginning dwell on second place, moving to within 2 1/2 games of the Giants while remaining 13 1/2 games behind Cincinnati.

The largest Monday crowd since opening day saw the biggest Dodger winning margin of the season, back-to-back Dodger homers for just the second time this season and the most runs by a Dodger team since May 27.

They also saw Fernando Valenzuela’s best outing since his June 29 no-hitter. Valenzuela (8-8) was needed for only six innings, allowing one run on four hits with four strikeouts.

The fans even saw a high-speed chase featuring the team’s premier Keystone Kop, Mickey Hatcher.

With Jose Vizcaino on first base and one out in the eighth inning, Hatcher, batting for reliever Tim Crews, lined a ball down the right-field line. While Vizcaino was scoring, Hatcher was rounding first and second and, surprisingly, sliding into third base just ahead of the relay throw from second baseman Ernest Riles.

Riles’ throw rolled past the base and deep into foul territory. This is where Hatcher made his first mistake.

“I never should have gotten up and run home,” Hatcher said, smiling. “I should have just stayed put.”

Instead, Hatcher stood up and took off. Except his legs argued. Halfway to the plate, his knees began to knock. Several feet short of the plate, he fell on his face.

“It was unbelievable,” Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda said. “His legs wouldn’t let him move.”

Hatcher crawled across the plate, slapping it as he turned and sprawled on his back in exhaustion.

“Vizcaino was yelling for me to score standing up. . . . He didn’t know what to do,” Hatcher said. “Hey, I just hope we can turn this season around and make it exciting for the fans.”

The Giants have lost a season-high five consecutive games.

Will Clark, batting .429 against the Dodgers this year, was on the bench Monday after fouling a ball off his right foot Sunday in Chicago. The bruised foot was X-rayed with negative results, and Manager Roger Craig said he was going to rest him anyway, but before the game Clark said the foot was still hurting.

“When I get well, I will run out there like I always do, but I can’t do it on one foot,” said Clark, batting .280 with 14 homers and 65 RBIs.

Said Sharperson: “Every time Clark is in there, it’s like he’s a presence. So, you wonder if that didn’t affect the outlook.”

Second baseman Robby Thompson was out with a sore back, and catcher Gary Carter is on the disabled list with a bruised right shoulder. Shortstop Jose Uribe was being rested.

The only recognizeable veterans were Matt Williams, Kevin Mitchell and Brett Butler. Craig started Rick Leach at first, Greg Litton at second and catcher Kirt Manwaring. And, in an odd but forced maneuver against the left-handed Valenzuela, Craig gave left-handed hitting Mark Leonard his first major league start in right field.

“I told him Valenzuela was right-handed,” Craig said. “He said, ‘OK.’ ”

It was not OK for left-handed Giant starter Trevor Wilson, 24, who earlier this year had carried no-hitters into the ninth and seventh innings.

Stan Javier, playing for a resting Kirk Gibson, broke up this no-hit bid within seconds, leading off the Dodger first inning with a single to left. Two outs later on an 0-and-2 pitch, Murray homered to center, his 14th overall and second in his last six at-bats.

On a 3-and-0 fastball, Brooks followed with a homer to left, his 11th of the season. The only other Dodger back-to-back homers this year were hit by Gibson and Daniels on June 8 in San Diego.

The Dodgers were just getting started. Juan Samuel led off the second inning with a walk and one out later was bunted to second by Valenzuela. The Dodgers then scored six runs with two out.

Javier singled in a run. Sharperson singled. Daniels doubled in two runs, taking the team lead with 50 RBIs. His career high is 64.

After Daniels’ double, Randy O’Neal replaced Wilson. He intentionally walked Murray, but then Brooks singled to score another run. Rick Dempsey, who entered with six RBIs in 63 at-bats, then drove in two more with a double down the left field line.

Dodger Notes

The bar fight involving the Dodger middle infielders Saturday morning in Pittsburgh started when Alfredo Griffin jokingly told a woman he was Pirate second baseman Jose Lind, two sources have confirmed. Sources say the woman then asked for Griffin’s autograph, which started an argument between her and a male companion. Griffin and Juan Samuel then allegedly attempted to calm the man, causing busboy Wilson Sturgeon Jr. to intervene. Griffin and Samuel are charged with assaulting Sturgeon and are scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing in Pittsburgh’s City Court July 31.

Griffin was easy to spot Monday. He was the only player wearing sunglasses during batting practice. Griffin was protecting his left eye, which is still swollen and infected after it was scratched and punched during the fight. He missed his third consecutive start and today will be examined by ophthalmologist Matthew Bernstein. If Griffin is placed on the disabled list, look for triple-A shortstop Jose Offerman to join the team.

Jamie Jarrin returned to the Dodger broadcast booth for Spanish-language KWKW radio (1330) for the first time since suffering internal injuries in an automobile accident March 26. “I am so thrilled and thankful to be here,” said Jarrin, who nearly died in the spring training crash in Vero Beach, Fla. “The only regret I have is that I was not here for Fernando Valenzuela’s no-hitter.” Jarrin, who served as Valenzuela’s interpreter during the days of Fernandomania in the early 1980s, left the June 29 game against St. Louis in the first inning because of fatigue. He normally works seven innings of a broadcast but worked just four innings on Monday and will gradually increase his time.