Less Fanfare, but Nomo Keeps Dodgers on Top

Nomomania died ever so quietly this season in Southern California.

There no longer is a surge of euphoria every time Hideo Nomo pitches. He no longer is hounded by the American media. As difficult as it is to believe, Nomo has almost become just another member of the fine Dodger pitching staff.

And there’s no one in the world more happy about the transformation than Nomo himself. He says it’s an honor simply to be one of the guys. He also may be the guy to again lead the Dodgers to the playoffs.

Nomo had another brilliant performance in a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates Saturday night, giving the Dodgers a one-game lead in the NL West in front of a paid crowd of 50,962 at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers (78-63) moved a full game ahead of the San Diego Padres in the National League West for the first time since Aug. 17. The Dodgers, who have 21 games remaining, also are tied with the Montreal Expos in the wild-card race.

Nomo (14-10), winner of the 1995 rookie-of-the-year award, may not be dazzling the league with record-setting strikeout performances this season, but he has been every bit as effective. He yielded only four hits in 8 2/3 innings, and allowed only two baserunners to reach second until tiring in the ninth.

Todd Worrell relieved Nomo with a 4-1 lead and two outs in the ninth, but gave up two run-scoring singles before retiring Jason Kendall on a fly ball to center for his career-high 40th save. Worrell, who will turn 37 in two weeks, becomes the second-oldest pitcher to earn 40 saves. Dennis Eckersley already was 37 when he had his first 40-save season with the Oakland Athletics.

Nomo’s 14 victories are his most in a season since 1993, when he was pitching for the Kintetsu Buffaloes in Japan. He has pitched into at least the seventh inning in 10 of his last 11 starts. Only five times this season has he failed to pitch at least six innings, and has lost only three times since June 25.

“He’s not a guy who’s looking for personal bests,” said Dave Wallace, Dodger pitching coach. “He competes for his team to win. He is unflappable with a tremendous focus. He has his quiet confidence about him.

“He studies hitters more than any starter we have. He knows who hits what pitches, who hits him well and who to pitch around.

“I really believe he’s pitching every bit as well as he did last year.”

The Dodgers clung to a 1-0 lead on Eric Karros’ sacrifice fly in the sixth until the eighth when Raul Mondesi hit a two-out, three-run homer off Dave Wainhouse. It proved vital since the Pirates came back with three runs in the ninth and had runners on first and second when Kendall lined out to Chad Curtis.

The Dodgers also got another lift from center fielder Brett Butler. Butler, who was given another huge ovation when he stepped to the plate for the first time Saturday night, produced two of the Dodgers’ seven hits and made a beautiful over-the-shoulder catch in the eighth inning to rob Kendall of an extra-base hit.

Butler, who had only seven hours’ sleep after Friday’s dramatic return, assured Dodger Manager Bill Russell before the game that he felt fine.

“I thought my body would be sore,” Butler said, “but I’m ready to go. I worked too hard to get back to start taking days off now.

“I’m still kind of numb about everything, but normalcy is coming back now.”

Said Russell: “He’s running on a lot of emotions and adrenaline. He looks like the same old Brett Butler. You can see the determination in him. This could be his last hurrah, nobody knows but him.”