Busch Is a Friend in a Pinch : Baseball: Ostracized off the field, he’s glad-handed by the Dodgers after he hits a homer to beat the Pirates, 5-4, to complete a sweep.

Sunday afternoon Mike Busch proved that he can be as lovable as anyone in a Dodger uniform after his pinch-hit home run in the seventh inning helped provide the Dodgers with a 5-4 victory and a three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

It has been uncomfortable at times, and Busch, a former replacement player, doesn’t expect that to change.

The phone seldom rings with teammates offering to go out to lunch. Some teammates avoid eye contact when they see him outside the clubhouse, and a few refuse to talk to him.

But Sunday afternoon his teammates were jostling for position on the bench to hug, embrace and high-five him after his homer.

The victory enabled the Dodgers (67-59) to remain tied with the Colorado Rockies for first place in the National League West, and stay 2 1/2 games in front of the Houston Astros in the wild-card race.

“Everybody dreams of a situation like that,” Busch said. “There’s nothing better than hitting a home run. I got goose bumps going around the bases.

“I got 2 1/2 hours of sleep after my first home run [Saturday night]. I’ll probably get 15 minutes of sleep tonight.”

The Dodgers, trailing, 4-1, in the third inning, closed the gap to 4-3 in the sixth, before Manager Tom Lasorda called on Busch to pinch hit.

Busch, facing right-hander Mike Dyer, smacked a two-and-two slider to center field, stunning the paid crowd of 12,154 at Three Rivers Stadium. Chris Gwynn won the game in the eighth with a two-out, pinch-hit single, and Todd Worrell pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 27th save.

It was an important victory for the Dodgers, but perhaps more important for Busch because it allowed him to feel accepted. He received high-fives from every teammate, led by Brett Butler. And Busch was congratulated again in the clubhouse, the cheers led by Chad Fonville.

“It was tough; it was a tough situation for everybody,” said Busch, who was called up Aug. 30. “The team didn’t need a distraction, and I was the last guy who wanted to be a distraction with the team in a pennant race.

“It’s just like any job. It takes a little while to fit in, but I’m starting to feel a lot more comfortable.”

Likewise, the Dodgers will tell you, they’re starting to feel a little more comfortable with Busch. Sure, many players still are angry with his decision to play in spring training games. Some still resent his being called up to the big leagues without warning.

Yet he’s one of them when he steps into the clubhouse, and they plan to treat him no better or worse.

“There’s no question he’s had a tough time,” said Dodger starter Tom Candiotti, who yielded four runs in four innings and was rescued by five shutout innings from the bullpen. “It takes people time, some people longer than others to deal with the situation.

“There was no preparation for what happened. A lot of tempers flared. A lot of frustration was vented. I view Mike as a teammate now.”

Said Gwynn, whose pinch-hit single scored Eric Karros from third base with the winning run: “When we put a uniform on, it’s time to play. Whatever he does, we’re right there cheering for him. What we do off the field is a different story.

“It’s a professional relationship, and guys have taken a professional attitude.”

The Dodgers arranged to get Busch’s first home-run ball Saturday night from a fan. The second homer was also retrieved, and both soon will be on display at his home.

“I’m glad to see him persevere through all that,” Dodger second baseman Delino DeShields said. “He kept his focus. He’s one of us. He’s as much a part of this team as anyone else.”