Hershiser Ends Streak by Gooden : Baseball: He outduels Met pitcher who had not lost to Dodgers in more than seven years. L.A. starter gives up six hits and one run in eight innings for 2-1 victory.

One month ago in New York, in a secluded back room of the visitors’ clubhouse at Shea Stadium, Orel Hershiser offered Dwight Gooden advice on his recovery from shoulder surgery.

On Wednesday night, Hershiser administered Lesson No. 2.

In a less-private setting--before 26,627 at Dodger Stadium--Hershiser gave up only Bobby Bonilla’s ninth-inning home run in leading the Dodgers to a 2-1 victory over the New York Mets and Gooden.

“In a matchup like this, you sort of get the eye of the tiger,” Hershiser said.

It gave the Dodgers their third consecutive victory and ended their pitching staff’s consecutive scoreless inning streak at 27 innings.

Before Bonilla hit that shot into the right-field bleachers during his first game in 16 days, the Mets had not scored in 22 innings.

“The way this season is going I knew anything could happen,” Gooden said.

Things such as Gooden giving up two runs in six innings and losing to the Dodgers for the first time in more than seven years. It was also his first career loss at Dodger Stadium in seven decisions.

Hershiser, who gave up six hits in eight innings, is moving in a different direction. He has given up two earned runs or fewer in four of his last five starts.

He came within three outs of his second complete game in four starts after not completing a game in nearly three years.

Thanks to Jim Gott’s sixth save in seven opportunities, the best percentage on the team, Hershiser also recorded his third victory since June 9.

When Bonilla came to the plate in the ninth inning in his first game since recovering from a cracked rib, Hershiser had retired 10 of his last 12 hitters.

“I went up to Bulldog and said I thought he was looking tired,” Lenny Harris said. “He said, ‘Let’s see if we can do it with defense.’ Then Bonilla hit the home run and Orel just kind of looked at me and . . . “

No sooner did Bonilla round the bases then Hershiser walked Chris Donnels, bringing in Gott.

Todd Hundley struck out, then Dick Schofield forced Donnels with a grounder that could have resulted in a game-ending double play. But Jose Offerman, who earlier committed his 33rd error, threw high to first base.

But that only delayed the Dodgers’ happy ending, which came moments later when Jeff McKnight ended the game with a grounder to Gott.

Gooden last lost to the Dodgers on May 25, 1985. Before Wednesday he had a 14-1 career record against the Dodgers with a 2.09 earned-run average in 19 starts.

He did not undergo reconstructive surgery like Hershiser, but you would never know it. Gooden’s 1991 season ended with arthroscopic surgery Sept. 7, and he has not been the same since.

He suffered his career-high 11th loss Wednesday, falling to 6-11 while his ERA moved to 4.04.

“It’s tough to see Dwight Gooden pitching like that,” Harris said. “Before he’d be throwing a 95-mile-an-hour fastball on 3-and-2. Now he’s throwing a curve.

“He knows he doesn’t have his perfect stuff anymore. He has to deal with what he’s got.”

Hershiser said he was impressed with Gooden, adding that he only needs time.

“In talking to them, we just said that Dwight needs to get stronger, that’s all,” Hershiser said.

The Dodgers scored their first run in the fourth when rookie Henry Rodriguez picked a smashing way to extend his hitting streak to nine games--with a home run.

It was Rodriguez’s second home run during the streak and this season.

“Next year they are obviously going to have to make some decisions,” said Rodriguez, whose streak is third longest on the Dodgers this year. “I want to do well while I have a chance.”

The Dodgers manufactured another run in the fifth inning on three singles, with the key hit not leaving the infield.

Dave Hansen, who had already singled in the second inning, started the fifth with a single to right. Tom Goodwin, who had three hits to give him six consecutive hits for the hottest streak of his young career, then singled to left.

With runners on first and second, Hershiser put down a bunt to move the runners to second and third.

Offerman then hit a bouncer over Gooden’s head. Donnels grabbed it after charging from the right of second base but dropped the ball after Hansen had already scored.