17 Marlins Join Nomo’s Fan Club

The fans at Dodger Stadium began chanting his name Saturday night with every pitch, rising to their feet with every strikeout, and cheering and groaning with every call by home-plate umpire Wally Bell.

Hideo Nomo, putting on a pitching performance that brought back memories of Sandy Koufax, struck out a career-high 17 batters and yielded only three hits in the Dodgers’ 3-1 victory over the Florida Marlins in front of a raucous paid crowd of 46,059.

Nomo, who struck out at least one batter in every inning, and at least two batters in six innings, came within one strikeout of tying the Dodger record of 18 set by Koufax in 1959 and 1962, and tied by Ramon Martinez in 1990. He fell three shy of the major league record of 20 set by Roger Clemens of the Boston Red Sox in 1986 against the Seattle Mariners.

“I just started laughing,” said Marlin shortstop Kyle Abbott, who struck out three times, “it was so frustrating.”

Abbott, a former teammate of Nomo’s with the Kintetsu Buffaloes in Japan, never had seen a performance quite like it. Nomo threw 120 pitches, 83 for strikes.

“He just dominated,” said Marlin starter Chris Hammond, who gave up three hits in seven innings. “Actually, it was kind of fun to watch.”

Nomo had a shot at the record after striking out Kurt Abbott leading off the eighth inning for his 16th strikeout. It was the 11th time in the game that the bottom of the Marlin batting order--Greg Colbrunn, Charles Johnson, Kurt Abbott and Hammond--struck out. Incredibly, not one of them made contact the entire night.

Pinch-hitter Joe Orsulak popped up to shortstop Greg Gagne for the second out in the eighth inning, and Quilvio Veras lined out to third baseman Mike Blowers for the third out. Veras, whose third-inning homer prevented the shutout, was the only batter in the Marlins’ lineup not to strike out.

Nomo opened the ninth by striking out Jesus Tavarez for his 17th strikeout, then Gary Sheffield hit a bouncer back to the mound for the second out and Jeff Conine ended the game by flying out to Roger Cedeno in left field.

Nomo weakly pumped his fist, and soon was smothered by handshakes and hugs by his teammates and Dodger coaching staff.

The crowd sensed this night might be special in the fifth inning. Nomo had a 3-1 lead after Raul Mondesi’s two-run homer in the fourth inning, and considering the way he was pitching, it was not a question of whether the Marlins would score again but whether they’d even make contact.

Nomo, who struck out five consecutive batters at one point, struck out the side for the first time in the fifth inning. It gave him 10 strikeouts, and the crowd gave him a long, rousing ovation.

No longer was it good enough for Nomo to produce outs.

Everyone wanted strikeouts.

Nomo, who struck out 17 for Kintetsu in 1990, said that he wasn’t even aware of the strikeout total.

Yet he was so dominant that the Marlins hit only one infield ground ball the entire game. Second baseman Delino DeShields never touched the ball. Only three fly balls were hit to center fielder Brett Butler and left fielders Billy Ashley and Cedeno. And the only fly ball hit to right fielder Mondesi went over his head for a disputed homer.

“I didn’t really think about it [strikeouts],” Nomo said. “The main point is for the team to win the game instead of me breaking the record.

“It was fun. I was happy I was able to pitch in this kind of situation.”

“He was great,” Manager Tom Lasorda said. “I can’t put it any simpler. The man was great.”

Certainly, Nomo’s performance should quiet critics and skeptics who predicted this winter that Nomo would struggle this season.

“I don’t think there are any doubts now,” Lasorda said.

Nomo (2-1, 2.05 earned-run average), who now has pitched back-to-back three-hit complete games, might have been talking about a no-hitter if not for Veras. Veras produced two of the hits, although Mondesi insists that Veras’ home run should have been ruled a double. Veras hit the ball off the top of the right-field fence in the third inning. The ball caromed high in the air and back onto the field, but first-base umpire Tom Hallion ruled it a home run.

No matter. Ashley evened the score when he led off the third with a towering home run over the center-field fence.

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Special K

A look at the Dodger single-game strikeout leaders: *--*

No. Pitcher Date Opponent 18 Ramon Martinez June 4, 1990 Atlanta 18 Sandy Koufax April 24, 1962 Chicago 18 Sandy Koufax Aug. 31, 1959 San Francisco 17 Hideo Nomo April 13, 1996 Florida 16 Hideo Nomo June 14, 1995 Pittsburgh 16 Sandy Koufax May 26, 1962 Philadelphia 16 Sandy Koufax June 22, 1959 Philadelphia 16 Nap Rucker July 24, 1909 Pittsburgh

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