BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Gott’s Save Brings Images of Pirate Days

Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda greeted Jim Gott Sunday by saying, “Jim Gott of the Pittsburgh Pirates.”

The greeting was prompted by Gott’s performance Saturday night, when he pitched a perfect 10th inning to save the game for Orel Hershiser. Gott, put in the closer’s role since Todd Worrell was placed on the disabled list with a sprained forearm, saved 34 games for Pittsburgh in 1988. Elbow surgery caused him to miss the next season, but it didn’t stop the Dodgers from signing Gott that winter as a free agent. Gott didn’t pitch until May 27 of 1990 and has been solid since, being used in a myriad of bullpen roles.

In three appearances this season, Gott has retired the first batter he has faced and has not been scored on. He has allowed only one hit in five innings.

Tom Goodwin, who scored the winning run Saturday night for the Dodgers, ran the 40 in 4.3 seconds in high school in Fresno, the last time he was clocked. Goodwin, who scored from second on a bloop single to short center, scored standing up . . . Eric Davis, who had a batting average of .160 before Sunday’s game, said he always starts the season slowly. “People don’t remember where you started, it’s where you finish that they remember,” Davis said . . . Darryl Strawberry is batting .167 but has an on-base percentage of .423. He has walked eight times and struck out once in 18 at-bats.

The St. Louis Cardinals, who usually stay at a downtown hotel in Los Angeles when they play at Dodger Stadium, will stay at an airport hotel this week in case a Rodney King verdict provokes civil unrest. The Dodgers open at home against the Cardinals Tuesday and the game is sold out.