Sutcliffe Makes Most of Special Homecoming, 6-0

On the plane flight to the West Coast, Rick Sutcliffe listened to an old tape, one that he has kept since his first start as a Dodger in 1979. He put on the headset and listened to Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully calling the play-by-play of his first success as a rookie.

Fifteen seasons later, Sutcliffe, former Dodger, NL rookie of the year and Cy Young Award winner, held the Dodgers scoreless for 7 2/3 innings as the St. Louis Cardinals scored a 6-0 victory before 36,689 at Dodger Stadium.

“It was really important for me to win here today because this is where it all began for me, “ Sutcliffe said. “I didn’t want to embarrass myself out here.”

Mike Piazza, who is batting .340, got two of the seven hits against Sutcliffe (2-1), who made his second start since being sidelined because of a strained left hamstring. It was his best start since he faced the Dodgers April 13 in St. Louis--his first NL start since 1991--and he won that game, too.

“I never know what to expect from Rick,” St. Louis Manager Joe Torre said. “He’ll drive you mad at times, but he never gives up on a hitter.”

The Dodgers had their opportunities, leaving the bases loaded with two out in the second inning and runners on first and second with one out in the fourth. But Sutcliffe, with the help of a fine play by shortstop Ozzie Smith in the fifth, retired eight of nine batters until the eighth inning, when the Dodgers loaded the bases with two out and failed to score again.

“Ozzie is like having five infielders out there,” Sutcliffe said. “It’s probably the best (defense) I have played with. If I keep it in the park, I know I have a chance.”

In the eighth, Jose Offerman beat out an infield single, Piazza singled to right and Tim Wallach walked, loading the bases for Henry Rodriguez. That was it for Sutcliffe, who was relieved by right-hander Rene Arocha. But Rodriguez grounded to third to end the inning.

“He didn’t throw too many strikes, but he got us swinging at his pitches,” Eric Karros said. “If we would have just gone up there and stood there, he would have walked us.”

Against starter Tom Candiotti (4-2), the Cardinals scored twice in the second, one run the result of a throwing error by Wallach, twice in the third on a two-run double by Tom Pagnozzi, and made it 6-0 in the eighth on a two-run double by Bernard Gilkey.

The loss was the Dodgers’ fifth in eight games during this home stand, but they are still in first place in the National League West, three games ahead of the San Francisco Giants. After 52 games last season, the Dodgers had a 28-24 record--the same as this season--but were five games behind the San Francisco Giants, tied for third place with the Atlanta Braves in the National League West. The Houston Astros were in second.

This season, the Braves lead the NL East and the Astros are tied with Cincinnati for the lead in the NL Central. But with the same record as last season, the Dodgers are on top in the West, and have been since May 16. With the Giants struggling, the Dodgers have blown several chances to increase their lead dramatically.

But same record or not, this season is a lot more fun.

“The last two seasons were miserable,” center fielder Brett Butler said. “When you are not winning and there is division on the team, you still try your hardest, but it isn’t fun.

“But this season there are guys here at 2:30 in the afternoon to get extra hitting in. There are 25 guys working together.”

Piazza, who has driven in 24 runs in his last 25 games, said he is enjoying himself more this season than last, when he became the center of attention en route to his rookie of the year award.

“I have been able to relax more, it isn’t so much of an adrenaline rush,” said Piazza, who ranks in the top 10 in the league in batting average, hits and RBIs.

“Last season it was like I blinked and the season was over.”