Smith Ends Up Saving Dodgers

Lee Smith thought he got a lucky break, not having to face hammerin’ Hideo Nomo when the Cincinnati Reds brought him in Sunday to pitch the Dodger eighth.

“That Nomo’s nasty,” Smith said, and he didn’t mean on the mound. He meant Nomo at the bat.

But a patty-cake Dodger lineup (six hitters under .240) did scrape together a couple of runs after lifting Nomo for a pinch-hitter, leaving Smith with a 3-2 defeat, as well as lower limbs so sore, he said, “I hope the handicapped bus picks me up outside.”

Given his freedom May 31 by the Angels, Smith had worked three consecutive scoreless outings as a Marge Schott employee before taking this loss.

Baseball’s all-time save leader has been traded from one last-place team to another, neither of which will let him save its games. He got booed at Dodger Stadium, a few days after being quoted that he regretted ever pitching in Anaheim at all.

The only thing Smith saved this time was the Dodgers, sparing them the embarrassment of losing to a pitcher, Dave Burba, who has a record of 0-7.

Failing to protect a one-run lead, Smith had assured Manager Ray Knight that he was fit to pitch. His right knee was sore and his left ankle was taped.

“He said he was fine,” Knight said. “I called him around the sixth inning, because last night he told me he couldn’t go. He told me, ‘I’m fine. I’ve had this same pain for five years.’ ”

Nomo was due up first. Already in this game, Hideo the Tornado had whistled a double to the gap in right-center, followed by another double into the left-field seats that came within a meter of being his first American home run.

But Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda--who spent half an hour with Knight commiserating over having two of the few teams in baseball not ripping the cover off the ball--lifted Nomo for pinch-hitter Roger Cedeno, just as Smith hobbled in to pitch.

Knight had gotten what he wanted from Burba, except for how he pitched to Nomo.

“You’re supposed to throw him breaking balls,” Knight said. “My boy [his son, 17 years old] is not a very good hitter, but if you throw a ball right down the middle of the plate, he’s going to hit it. Nomo bails out with his left foot any time you throw him a fastball, so it’s not like he’s a hitter.”

Smith had no trouble with Nomo’s pinch-hitter, but Delino DeShields dragged a bunt, making Smith come off the mound after it like the Abominable Snowman.

The first baseman, Hal Morris, had to field it, and threw wildly, DeShields taking an extra base.

Smith then surrendered a game-tying single to Todd Hollandsworth and a game-losing double to Eric Karros, dropping sidearm with what he described himself as “a junk pitch.” As soon as Mike Blowers added the fourth hit of the inning, Smith got the hook.

The 38-year-old straggled in to the clubhouse afterward with Ace-bandage bundles as thick as turbans, one on his right knee, the other on his left ankle.

“Another tough day at the office,” Smith said. “Those guys hit good pitches. That thing to Karros, it was inside and eight inches off the ground. It was a waste pitch and he killed it.

“I’m not sorry for myself. I’m sorry for Dave Burba. He pitched his tail off.”

As for the bunt, there wasn’t much Smith could do. Even his manager acknowledged that.

Said Knight: “He’s looked like he limps since he’s been 30.”

It should have been a pitcher’s day, with neither team starting a player with a batting average above .281.

“Tommy and I talked about it yesterday for, oh, must have been 30 minutes,” Knight said. “The Dodgers are going through the same thing we are, not having anybody getting the big hit. Their pitching is excellent and they’re playing the best defense I’ve seen them play. But for either one of us right now, three runs is a good day.”

The Dodgers didn’t get their three until Smith got into the game.

And until the bat was taken out of Nomo’s hands.

“Good thing I didn’t have to face that guy,” Smith said. “Nomo might have taken me deep.”