Murray’s Homer Makes Ojeda a Winner at Home

Not everything with the Dodgers has changed this season, as those who witnessed Eddie Murray’s sweeping swing in the seventh inning against the Philadelphia Phillies will agree.

Murray still hits the ball so hard you can hear it in the parking lot, which is nearly where his line-drive, two-run home run against Joe Boever landed in the Dodgers’ 3-1 victory before 44,255 Friday night at Dodger Stadium.

With one swing, Murray moved the Dodgers within a percentage point of first-place San Diego while giving pitcher Bob Ojeda his first victory at Dodger Stadium.

The success was preserved by relief pitchers Jay Howell and John Candelaria, who quelled trouble in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, with Candelaria collecting his second save.

The evening also began with a bang, the Dodgers announcing that celebrated shortstop prospect Jose Offerman would be joining the team from triple-A Albuquerque because of a toe injury suffered by Alfredo Griffin while he was moving furniture earlier in the day.

Offerman, who will be in the starting lineup today, arrived at Dodger Stadium late Friday much more composed than when he was called up late last season.

“I have been here before,” Offerman said with a smile. “I am ready.”

Murray was ready in the seventh inning with the score tied 1-1 after Juan Samuel had led off with a walk against Boever and been forced at second base by Darryl Strawberry.

“For 10 years, as an opposing pitcher, Eddie Murray scared me, he terrified me,” said Ojeda, who allowed only one run and five hits in seven innings. “So when he came up in the seventh inning against (King), I put myself in their pitcher’s shoes. I said, ‘Oh boy, you better be careful now.’

“Murray is such a powerful and smart hitter, he just lays in the weeds, and if you make one mistake . . . he’s going to rope it.”

Murray found a 2-and-1 breaking pitch that didn’t break, and moments later the fans were chanting, “Ed-die, Ed-die.”

“He had been getting over that nasty knuckle-curve, one nastier than the other, but then one came out flat,” Murray said with a smile. “That is the one I got.”

While much of the attention has been focused on other Dodgers, Murray has collected 12 hits in his last 33 at-bats for a .364 average with three home runs. Overall he is hitting .313, second to Brett Butler among Dodger regulars.

“It hasn’t always been there for us this year . . . but it’s going to be,” Murray said. “It’s too early to be panicking or anything about this team. Our offense is going to be there.”

The Dodgers nearly panicked after a tiring Ojeda gave up a walk and hit a batter to start the eighth inning. Howell entered the game and, after Randy Ready flied out to deep left field, struck out John Morris and Dale Murphy to end the inning.

With one out in the ninth, Howell allowed singles to Charlie Hayes and Dickie Thon. Jim Fregosi, the Phillie manager, sent up left-handed pinch hitter Darrin Fletcher.

But Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda countered with left-handed Candelaria, even though Howell had yet to be removed from a game this year. Candelaria struck out Fletcher and retired Wally Backman--who hits better against right-handers--on a fly ball to end the game.

“This had nothing to do with Jay. This was Candelaria’s time. This is what he does best,” Lasorda said after Candelaria doubled the number of saves recorded by Dodger left-handers last year.

In winning their second consecutive game, the Dodgers brought peace to Ojeda, who entered with an 0-3 record and 6.19 earned-run average at Dodger Stadium and desperately wanted to win his first game in front of home fans.

Backed by some great fielding from Lenny Harris, making his first start at shortstop this year, Ojeda was at his best.

Of his 21 recorded outs, only five came on balls hit into the air. Of his five hits allowed, four were singles.

He worked out of trouble by stranding runners on second base, and induced Dale Murphy into a double-play grounder to end the sixth inning with runners on first and second.

“I’ve stopped worrying about feeling comfortable. I’ve stopped trying so hard to be so happy,” Ojeda said. “I’ve decided just to be me, to play it as it comes and to relax.”