Cubs Get to Gott and Dodgers, 2-1

Happy go-lucky Jim Gott was not his usual fortunate self Tuesday, when a pinch-single ended his streak of scoreless innings, gave him an earned-run average and the Chicago Cubs a 2-1 victory over the Dodgers in 10 innings.

Gott, who became the team’s closer when Todd Worrell was injured only three games into the season, had not been scored upon this season, a streak of 19 2/3 innings.

“You knew (that) was going to to happen,” said Gott, who had watched along with 19,053 at Wrigley Field as Rey Sanchez grounded up the middle, driving in the winning run.

“It was a lot of fun, but I have to credit the guys playing great defense behind me,” Gott said. “It wasn’t necessarily that I was throwing nasty pitches during the streak, although there were times during it that I was unhittable, but you have to rely on everybody else. “

But the Dodgers’ unreliable offense had put this game in peril long before Gott got into it. They scored one run against starter Frank Castillo in the third, but left the bases loaded to end the inning.

Squandered in the team’s second consecutive defeat were an impressive performance by starter Ramon Martinez, who shut out the Cubs on seven hits before Rick Wilkins hit a home run during the seventh inning to tie the score.

“There was a lot of pressure, pitching with a one-run lead,” Martinez said. “Maybe if we would have scored another run, I would have had it.

“It was a lot like pitching last year. We had the opportunity to get at least one or two more runs, and we didn’t score.”

The lack of offense again put the spotlight on Darryl Strawberry. After playing in two consecutive games, Strawberry had a sore back again Tuesday and it showed when he pinch-hit in the 10th inning and grounded to first base.

Strawberry, disappointed that he isn’t further along after spending the last couple of weeks in a new rehabilitation program, says he nonetheless understands his situation.

“I’ve got to go through this (program) this whole year, I have to fight through this,” Strawberry said. “Sitting out is not going to help. I have to stay with the program.

“I’m way ahead of where I was before, but it’s a day-to-day thing. I have to stick with it. It’s not like I’m going to say, ‘I’ll take the year off.’ ”

Equally disappointed in his lack of progress is Worrell, who said that he doesn’t know when he will return. He has been on the disabled list since April 8 because of a pulled muscle in his right forearm.

Said Gott: “We need to make our move now. We can’t wait for everyone to get healthy. We can’t point fingers. We might have done a little bit too much of that last year. The only way this can be solved is right here in the clubhouse for everybody to say, ‘What can I do a little bit better to help the ballclub out?’

“No amount of team meetings, no amount of batting practice is going to solve it. The coaches have done as much as they can, now it falls back on the players.”

Jose Offerman put the Dodgers ahead during the third inning with a single to left after a triple by Eric Karros. Martinez followed with a double to right, moving Offerman to third with none out.

But Brett Butler popped out, Jody Reed struck out and after Mitch Webster was intentionally walked, Tim Wallach flied out. The Dodgers got only five more hits the rest of the game. Dwight Smith led off the 10th inning with a single against Gott and moved to second on a sacrifice by Jose Vizcaino. Gott walked Mark Grace intentionally, and Ryne Sandberg followed with a high bouncer off of the plate to third baseman Lenny Harris, who had no play. With the bases full and the infield in, Sanchez batted for reliever Bob Scanlan and drove Gott’s first pitch up the middle.