Dodgers Get a Good Win to End Trip

By JASON REID

Aug. 3, 2000 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

PITTSBURGH —

The Dodgers reacquired leadoff hitter Tom Goodwin primarily for his speed atop the batting order.

Goodwin put it to good use Wednesday in an 11-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Three Rivers Stadium.

The center fielder unnerved the Pirates by reaching base four times as the Dodgers won the finale of the 10-game trip before 19,537.

Goodwin beat out an infield single, walked three times, scored two runs, drove in two more and notched his 40th stolen base as the Dodgers ended the trip 6-4.

That’s what the Dodgers were hoping for when they brought back Goodwin on Monday in a deal with the Colorado Rockies. It’s what Goodwin was hoping for too.

“That’s what you try to have happen, but it’s obviously not going to go that way all the time,” said Goodwin, second in the majors in stolen bases.

“I just try to get as close to that as possible. What the other guys have to do, getting the clutch hits, that’s the hard part.”

There was solid production at the other end of the batting order too. Alex Cora led an 11-hit attack with three hits and four RBIs in the No. 8 spot.

“It really is a total team effort,” said Cora, who has 11 RBIs in his last four starts. “It can’t be the big guys all the time.”

Goodwin made his big contribution in the second start of his second Dodger tenure, providing a quick boost to the weary Dodgers, who played three games in 24 hours in finishing the three-city trip.

After striking out three times in the second game of Tuesday’s doubleheader, Goodwin started Wednesday’s game with a walk, then scored on Shawn Green’s 18th home run. Goodwin’s third-inning, two-run single extended the Dodgers’ lead to 8-3.

Green’s three-run blast to center against Pirate starter Jose Silva (7-5) was the highlight of a four-run first as the Dodgers scored all of their runs in the first four innings.

Darren Dreifort (8-7) needed the support in a mediocre performance after three impressive starts.

The right-hander gave up seven hits--two of them homers--and five runs in six innings in improving to 4-0 since the All-Star break.

“We did a great job of getting runners on base and getting them in,” said Dreifort, who has not lost since June 29. “It wasn’t easy pitching today, but 11 runs makes giving up five a lot easier.”

Relievers Terry Adams and Mike Fetters combined to work three scoreless innings.

Goodwin, however, got everything started.

“Goody brings a lot to our team,” said Green, whose homer to center was estimated at 430 feet. “Obviously, he made things happen today. He changed the whole complexion of the game.”

Others agreed.

“Talk about sparking a ballclub,” Manager Davey Johnson said. “Three walks and a single in his first four [at-bats], that’s about as good as it gets.

“But that’s what speed does, it puts the defense on the defensive. And when there are [fast baserunners] out there, moving around, pitchers don’t make good pitches.”

After Goodwin walked in the first, Mark Grudzielanek, who had three hits, singled through the hole at short opened when Pirate shortstop Enrique Wilson broke toward second with Goodwin running. That set the stage for Green’s homer.

In the second, Goodwin walked and advanced to third when Grudzielanek singled to left and Pirate left fielder John Vander Wal bobbled the ball for an error.

“Maury Wills always told me, ‘Go until they stop you,’ ” Goodwin said of the all-time Dodger stolen base leader.

Rushing to get Goodwin at first in the third, Wilson bobbled his chopper through the middle and two runs scored.

“The bottom line is to win,” Goodwin said, downplaying his role. “That’s what we did the other night, and I didn’t do a thing.”

That wasn’t the case Wednesday.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Bottoms Up

The worst starters in the National League, ranked by earned-run average:

PITCHER, TEAM W-L ERA

1. Omar Daal, Philadelphia 2-12 (6.90)

2. Jose Lima, Houston 4-13 (6.78)

3. Paul Byrd, Philadelphia 2-9 (6.51)

4. Russ Ortiz, San Francisco 5-10 (6.46)