Umpires Strike Back for Dodgers

Before they went out and defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, 9-5, on Saturday night, the Dodgers had to get over what happened to them the night before.

Some were still sore about a lousy call that umpire Gary Darling made in the ninth inning of Friday’s game, a call that resulted in unintentionally hilarious insults, such as: “You stink, Darling!” “You’re crazy, Darling!” and “I never want to see you again, Darling!”

Well, the plate ump giveth and the plate ump taketh away. A night after screaming until they were blue in the face, the Dodgers lucked out Saturday when umpire Charlie Reliford called a Cardinal out who was safe, 24 hours after Darling called a Cardinal safe who was out.

Friday, the ump needed a police escort.

Saturday, the ump could have gotten a standing ovation.

Well, you know baseball. Every day, a new hero.

The same pitcher, Mark Guthrie, who lost Friday’s game was on the hill Saturday when the umpire struck back. Guthrie was about to give away a four-run lead when Mike Piazza blocked the plate--Dodger deja vu--and Royce Clayton slid into him. Reliford flashed the old “out” sign, which was splendid of him, since Clayton seemed to be comfortably occupying home plate while Piazza was wrestling with the ball.

Wasn’t it only the previous night when the Dodgers were standing there at home plate, screaming at the umpire to make himself an appointment at Lens Crafters?

Deep in their hearts, the Dodgers had been more unhappy with themselves Friday, for having put themselves in such a fix in the first place. The umpire might have a bum moment, but the Dodgers were the ones who couldn’t score a run for 3 hours and 15 minutes, as well as the ones who put all those Cards on base.

That’s why it was smart, the way the Dodgers composed themselves 30 minutes after yelling terms of endearment at Darling. The losing pitcher, Guthrie, made an excellent point, saying, “It could be more damaging if we show up tomorrow and continue to whine about it.” Yes, there’s nothing worse than a blue whine.

When the Dodgers did show up Saturday, the first thing they saw was a game-winning play from San Diego on the scoreboard, with Greg Vaughn of the Padres dodging the Cincinnati catcher’s tag. Guthrie and Piazza must have immediately gone into the training room for a couple of aspirin.

Little did they know, a third bang-bang play was coming up later this same night.

Thanks to Piazza’s, uh, tag, the Dodgers hung on to a 6-5 lead, then put the game away in their half of the eighth inning when Billy Ashley hit one of those homers of his that was last seen headed for the proposed site of Peter O’Malley’s football stadium. The winning pitcher was one of the Martinez brothers, I believe Ramon, and the loser was one of the Benes brothers, I believe Andy.

This nip-and-tuck baseball season probably will not be decided until the final bang of the final inning between the Dodgers and Padres, with the Montreal Expos seated somewhere in front of a big-screen TV, rooting against one of them in English and French. Somebody is going to be left out of the National League playoffs, and the Dodgers don’t want to be that somebody.

This weekend’s series between the Dodgers and Cardinals could be a preview of the playoff’s first round. As you know, these two noble franchises have played each other something like 1,800 times, with the Dodgers winning 899, the Cardinals winning 895, and, I believe, six games being declared a draw by the referee and judges at ringside.

The last time L.A. was in St. Louis for a playoff series, that little rascal Ozzie Smith hit a home run. Ozzie’s mom sat in the stands Friday night at Dodger Stadium to see a ceremony honoring her son, and I trust she has instructed Ozzie not to pull that power-hitter stunt again on all of us here in Los Angeles who have learned to love him. OK, Oz? Are we clear on this?

Also, if anybody named Jack Clark shows up, Bill Russell . . . walk him, man.

But first, the Dodgers must make the playoffs. It isn’t going to be easy, because the Padres are playing inspired baseball and because the Colorado Rockies and San Francisco Giants want the Dodgers to win about as much as they want Tommy Lasorda to be elected commissioner.

If the entire season comes down to one last slide into home plate, just close your eyes and hope for the best. That’s what the umpires do.