This Might Be Dodgers’ Run of Luck

Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda, wondering at times these past few weeks if perhaps the doctors haven’t been overly cautious with his recuperation, may have one request after showing up Monday night at Dodger Stadium:

Could we take this recovery time a little bit slower?

The Dodgers ended one of their most agonizing droughts in franchise history Monday night, defeating the San Diego Padres by finally scoring a run, and winning, 1-0, in 10 innings in front of 44,368 at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodger run, scored on a two-out pinch-hit single by Dave Hansen, ended a streak of 30 consecutive scoreless innings. It was their longest drought since a Los Angeles franchise-record 31 innings Aug. 11-15, 1967.

Fittingly, the run was unearned.

The Dodgers, scoring for the first time since the fifth inning Friday night, set up their offensive bonanza when Greg Gagne opened the 10th by hitting a grounder through the legs of Padre shortstop Chris Gomez for an error.

Dodger interim Manager Bill Russell, making all of the right moves, brought in Juan Castro to bunt Gagne to second base. The Padres decided to pitch to Delino DeShields and Padre closer Trevor Hoffman struck him out.

Russell then pulled outfielder Chad Fonville, hitless in his last 12 at-bats, and went with Hansen, who last had a hit on June 27 and had only one other since June 5. Hansen, after all, was batting only .175 with two RBIs the entire season.

Hansen swung at Hoffman’s first pitch and hit it into the left-center gap, scoring Gagne. The entire bench, led by Russell, rushed onto the field. And in shades of Lasorda, Russell took Hansen into his arms and gave him a bear hug.

“That was a great feeling,” Hansen said. “I think Billy was releasing some of the emotions he has been holding in. It was nice to see him react more as a player than a coach.”

The Dodgers increased their lead to 1 1/2 games in the National League West over the Colorado Rockies, and two games over the Padres, who have lost five consecutive games.

“I’m not taking anything away from Tommy [Lasorda] by any means,” Dodger first baseman Eric Karros said, “but to his credit, Russell has done a great job making the transition from not being around to filling his shoes. That’s what has enabled to keep it going with Tommy being out.

“This guy will be a great big league manager, whether it’s here or elsewhere. I don’t see any reason why he won’t be a great one.”

Lasorda, who attended his first game since June 23 when he was hospitalized the next day because of a heart attack and ulcer, could be back on the next home stand beginning July 30 against the Florida Marlins. There’s no doubt in his mind that he wants to return, and Russell believes that Lasorda could soon be back.

“I just prepare myself for each day,” Russell said, “but from what I’ve been told he’ll be back. He looks and sounds so much better. But I’ve enjoyed this, and it’s been a lot easier than I thought it would be, maybe because the players know me and respected my authority.

“They’ve really taken me in.”

Now, if they can only start hitting.

The Dodgers, who had last scored in the fifth inning Friday night on Mike Piazza’s run-scoring single, are batting only .137 during the stretch with 14 hits--13 singles and a double by Raul Mondesi.

The Dodgers also ended another embarrassing streak when Piazza threw out Jody Reed attempting to steal second in the eighth inning. It ended a streak of 40 consecutive stolen bases against the Dodgers, including 37 in a row against Piazza.

Dodger starter Pedro Astacio had one of his finest games of the season. He pitched 8 1/3 shutout innings, yielding only five singles. Mark Guthrie (2-0) came into the game in relief and pitched 1 2/3 innings for the victory.

“Something like this can definitely pick you up,” said Hansen, who had been the forgotten man this season, “but more than that, I hope it picks the team up.”

* HE’S BACK, BUT . . .

Tom Lasorda returns to Dodger Stadium but gives no indication of his future. C4