Dodgers Short-Circuit McGwire’s Power Display

Maybe the Dodgers don’t have to worry about their disappointing starting pitchers after all.

Things might turn out OK for the Dodgers if they continue hitting the way they did Saturday night in a timely 10-7 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers (22-20) hung on to end a three-game losing streak against St. Louis (21-19) despite another prodigious home-run performance by Mark McGwire before a sellout crowd of 54,179--the Dodgers’ largest of the season.

After failing to hit a homer in his first four games at Dodger Stadium, the Cardinal first baseman blasted two Saturday--Nos. 11 and 12--and became only the third player to hit a ball out of the stadium in its 38-year history. Dodger closer Jeff Shaw gave up a two-out single in the ninth to Edgar Renteria and walked McGwire with Ray Lankford on deck.

Last Sunday, Lankford hit a one-out, two-run, game-winning homer in the bottom of the ninth against Shaw in a 5-4 victory Cardinal victory at Busch Stadium. Shaw fared better this time, getting Lankford to line out to first baseman Eric Karros for the final out.

Shaw nailed down the victory for Darren Dreifort (5-2) and earned his ninth save in 10 opportunities. Raul Mondesi also hit his National League-leading 16th homer as the Dodgers produced 14 hits.

But once again, McGwire stole the long-ball show.

“I really haven’t had time to reflect on it,” McGwire said. “They were nice hits. But the win would have meant a lot more. I get paid to see the ball and hit it. God gave me the talent to do it, so that’s what I try to do.”

McGwire hit his first homer in the first against Dreifort. The right-hander had another shaky outing, giving up five earned runs in six innings.

But he did enough to win.

In the eighth, McGwire hit a ball against rookie reliever Jamie Arnold that bounced off the roof of the left-field pavilion. The estimated 484-foot homer put McGwire in elite company in yet another power category.

“That’s about the most impressive home run I’ve ever seen,” Karros said. “It might not have had the distance as some of the others [hit out of Dodger Stadium] but it was just as impressive.”

Willie Stargell twice hit balls out of the stadium. The former Pittsburgh Pirate star first accomplished the feat Aug. 5, 1969, against pitcher Alan Foster. Stargell’s 506-foot blast cleared the right-field pavilion.

The Hall of Famer hit his second on top of the right-field pavilion May 8, 1973, against Andy Messersmith. That ball traveled only 470 feet.

Former Dodger catcher Mike Piazza crushed a 478-foot homer against Frank Castillo of Colorado on Sept. 21, 1997. That ball also bounced off the left-field pavilion roof.

McGwire’s 55th multihomer game moved him into a tie for fourth place on the all-time list with Jimmie Foxx. Moreover, his two-run blast in the eighth against Arnold cut the Dodgers’ lead to 9-7.

Left-handed specialist Pedro Borbon relieved Arnold and gave up a single to Lankford. Borbon was relieved by Alan Mills, who stranded runners at the corners.

Mondesi then hit his 16th homer in the eighth to give the Dodgers a 10-7 lead.

The Dodgers started quickly, scoring five runs in the first against overmatched St. Louis starter Clint Sodowsky (0-1).

Second baseman Eric Young was scratched from the lineup because of a sore left ankle. However, the offense was not slowed by the absence of the speedy leadoff batter.

Center fielder Devon White filled Young’s spot at the top of the lineup, getting on base twice and scoring two runs.

Todd Hollandsworth, a reserve outfielder, started at first for the first time in his five-year career because Karros was given some time off. Hollandsworth responded to the opportunity by hitting his first homer in the five-run first.