No Ecstasy, No Agony Either : Dodgers: Hershiser struggles through first inning, allowing four runs in 8-2 loss to Astros.

And Orel Hershiser thought the last 399 days were frustrating.

In his emotional return from reconstructive shoulder surgery Wednesday night, Hershiser was beaten up by slow grounders, balls that bounced off gloves, a hit by the opposing pitcher, and a balk.

His patience was tested more than his shoulder, which held up for 86 pitches in four innings in an 8-2 loss to the Houston Astros before 39,127 at Dodger Stadium.

His numbers--four runs allowed, all in the first inning, and nine hits--were worse than his actual pitching. But for one night, perhaps neither was as important as his presence.

Pitching in an official major league game for the first time since April 25, 1990, two days before doctors rebuilt his shoulder and told him he may never pitch again, Hershiser put the final touches on what he has called a “miracle.”

“Out of respect for the club, I feel bad that I gave up four runs and we lost the game,” Hershiser said afterward. “But I feel good about getting this one out of the way.

“Since my rehabilitation started, this was the best I have ever felt, right from when I started warming up. And in terms of stuff, I think my outing was outstanding. All throughout the first inning, (catcher Mike) Scioscia kept coming to me and said, ‘Keep chucking it, the ball is looking great.’ ”

Said Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda: “I was pleased. And he’s going to get better.”

In a touching 90-minute display, Hershiser was welcomed back with open arms.

The crowd stood, cheered and stomped for two minutes when he was introduced and took the mound. They returned to their feet after he completed each inning.

He was also given a standing ovation when he came to the plate for his first at-bat in the third inning, and when he left the plate for pinch-hitter Kal Daniels in the sixth inning with the bases loaded and two out.

Armed with a blank expression, Hershiser tried to act as if he had just been on this mound last week. But his emotions gave him away.

Before the first inning he paused, both on the mound and behind the mound, to silently stare into sky in prayer.

Before his first pitch, he saluted Dr. Frank Jobe somewhere above the Astro dugout, then saluted therapist Pat Screnar in the Dodger dugout.

After recording big outs, he punched his fist into the air.

Upon bouncing a ball into left field for a single, he raced around first base as if he were going take second. Once he got to second, he was nearly thrown out by straying too far toward third.

But much to the dismay of the Dodgers, who were hoping for a three-game sweep against the young Astros, he also pitched as if he had not been here lately.

“Up to the first pitch, everything was just as I dreamed it would be,” Hershiser said afterward. “I thanked God. I saluted Pat and Dr. Jobe. I threw my first pitch for a strike. Then, reality set in.

“A couple of ground-ball hits, and I was back on my heels. It is hard enough when you have runners on first and third and none out in the first inning. But when you haven’t pitched in 13 months, it’s a lot tougher.”

It took him 18 pitches to get one out. It took him 34 pitches to get through one inning.

By the time he faced one batter in the third inning, the bullpen had been up twice and pitching coach Ron Perranoski has visited him once.

Statistically speaking, it was the worst performance by a Dodger starter since Tim Belcher could not get out of the first inning against Philadelphia May 12. The Dodgers had gone 11-4 since then, taking over first place in the National League West.

But some of those hits, particularly in the first inning, were barely hits.

Steve Finley weakly grounded his second pitch of the game in the hole between shortstop and third base.

Craig Biggio grounded his sixth pitch through the infield where second baseman Juan Samuel is usually standing. But Finley was running, and so Samuel was covering second base and the ball rolled into the outfield.

Three pitches later, Ken Caminiti rolled a ball between Samuel and first baseman Eddie Murray to score a run.

The Astros finally hit a ball hard when Luis Gonzalez, the fourth batter, hit a line drive to right field to load the bases. But then, in what may have allowed him to get out of the first inning, Hershiser struck out Jeff Bagwell, who looked at three consecutive pitches after Hershiser fell behind 1 and 0.

Karl Rhodes then lined a ball to left field to score the third run of the inning. After Rafael Ramirez flied to left, Hershiser did something he only does an average of twice a season.

With the count 1 and 0 to Eric Yelding, Hershiser balked, scoring Gonzalez from third base with the third run of the inning. That forced Hershiser to intentionally walk Yelding, bringing up pitcher Pete Harnisch.

Hershiser could have ended the inning there when he fooled Harnisch into a hard bouncer to shortstop Alfredo Griffin. But the ball took a high hop and bounced off Griffin’s glove into left field to score the fourth run of the inning.

Only a strikeout of Finley, the 10th batter in the inning, saved Hershiser, as Kevin Gross was warming up in the bullpen.

Before the game, several of Hershiser’s teammates took his return casually, even lightly. Players mugged with him in front of the television cameras, and Stan Javier and Darryl Strawberry slipped on two of Hershiser’s game jerseys.

“I want to be the person everybody loves today,” Strawberry said with a laugh.

NO EASY TOUCHES: The Houston Astros give the Dodgers more than they bargain for in Orel Hershiser’s first major league outing in 13 months. C6