Dodger Bullpen Is for Real, Sets Stage for Zeile’s Big Hit

As the Dodgers continue to operate a bullpen by committee, virtually all the members were heard from Sunday.

The only exception was Frank Lankford as Jim Bruske, Mark Guthrie, Antonio Osuna, Scott Radinsky and Brad Clontz pitched five hitless innings before the Dodgers wrapped up a series sweep of the Chicago Cubs with a 4-3 victory in 12 innings and moved over .500 (12-11) for the first time.

The remnants of a Dodger Stadium crowd of 49,069 saw Todd Zeile drive in Eric Young with the decisive run and reward another spectacular effort by a Dodger bullpen that has now pitched 29 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings over its last eight games.

“We had a lot of opportunities to win today and didn’t, but the bullpen held them until we finally did,” Manager Bill Russell said.

“They have a kind of competition going. Nobody wants to be the guy who breaks the streak.

“I mean, we came into the season looking for one guy to step forward [as the closer], and they all look like they want the job.”

Fifteen Cubs went down in order between a double by Jeff Blauser off Ramon Martinez in the sixth and an Osuna walk to Mark Grace in the 11th.

Martinez retired the last five Cubs he faced in a seven inning stint in which he struck out eight and gave up six hits and two earned runs.

Clontz ultimately emerged with his first win as a Dodger, after which Young said of the remarkable relief, “We just want to ride this as long as we can. It’s very important for our confidence to win games like [Saturday night’s, by a 3-2 score] and today’s, and the bullpen gave us the chance. Those guys are coming in with a lot of confidence, and it’s very obvious the manager has confidence in them.”

With Mike Piazza drawing a rest and Raul Mondesi producing only an infield hit in six at bats as his average dropped to .209, the 12 hit Dodger attack featured three hits each by Young and Matt Luke, who started in left field.

Each homered and had a pair of singles. Young’s homer off Steve Trachsel in the fifth was his first of the season. Luke’s homer off Trachsel in the second was his first in the big leagues.

“Something I’ll never forget,” he said, adding it will be that much more memorable since he and Trachsel were once teammates on an American Legion team known as the Fullerton Angels.

Trachsel went to Troy High in Fullerton. Luke went to El Dorado High in Placentia.

“We have a little history together,” Luke said, smiling.

Trachsel went six innings, giving up eight hits. He had leads of 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2, but each time the Dodgers came back.

The run that tied the score at 3-3 and ultimately led to extra innings came in the sixth when Eric Karros delivered his first hit in his sixth at bat since returning from knee surgery, showed no hesitation as he advanced to third on a single by Luke and scored on Jose Vizcaino’s single.

Karros’ dash to third and his diving stop of a ground ball in his first game back on Saturday illustrated a lack of apprehension regarding the knee.

The Dodgers did not score again until the 12th. Young greeted Mark Pisciotta, the fifth Cub pitcher, with a single, took second on a sacrifice by Roger Cedeno and scored on Zeile’s sharp single to center.

Zeile had been 0 for 5.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been 0 for 6 in a game and that was a streak I didn’t want to start,” he said. “It just shows how you can go from the outhouse to the penthouse in one game.”

Zeile had also made what Russell called a game-saving catch in the top of the 12th when he dove toward the line to spear Lance Johnson’s line drive, a potential extra base hit with a runner at first.

The Dodgers are now 12-7 since their 0-4 start, and Zeile said that the return of Karros and Cedeno would stabilize a lineup that had been something of a revolving door. He also cited the right-left bullpen depth and said, “We have good balance, besides good talent.”