Fan Makes a Pitch to Lasorda, Who Manages to End Tryout

Lost in the 12-inning thriller the Dodgers played Monday night against the Cincinnati Reds was the mysterious appearance of a young man on the mound at Dodger Stadium, just beforethe start of the game but before the players had taken the field.

Instead of security personnel intervening, Manager Tom Lasorda went out to talk to him, and Tuesday, during a special “Baseball ‘91” luncheon at The Times, Lasorda described what had transpired.

“I went out and told the young man he’d have to leave,” Lasorda said. “He said, ‘Nope, I’m gonna pitch this game. I can do it. I can beat these guys.’

“Then I said, ‘Son, I wish the guy who is gonna pitch this game tonight had as much confidence as you have.’ ”

To which Times columnist Jim Murray, one of the panelists along with Lasorda, quipped: “I bet, along about the 12th inning, you were looking for the guy.”