Baldwin Hits His Stride in 3-1 Victory

James Baldwin has his own idea of how to compete in a pennant race.

Walk slowly and work fast.

The right-hander might have the most deliberate gait since Satchel Paige, but his pitching Saturday enabled the Dodgers to put the brakes on a five-game losing streak and accelerate past the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants and back into first place in the National League West.

Baldwin shook off a first-inning home run by Sammy Sosa, gave up four hits over eight innings and retired the last 14 batters he faced in a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs before 47,311 at Dodger Stadium.

Jeff Shaw pitched the ninth for his 33rd save, retiring Sosa, Fred McGriff and Michael Tucker in order.

For Baldwin, acquired July 26 in a trade with the Chicago White Sox, it was his second quality start in as many outings for his new team and his first victory. He has a 1.69 earned-run average in 16 innings as a Dodger.

For his teammates, it was a chance to become more familiar with a pitcher who wastes no time on the mound, throwing first-pitch strikes and showing great command of four pitches. Baldwin struck out eight and walked two.

“You can’t ask for a better effort to end a losing streak,” catcher Paul Lo Duca said. “He goes out there and throws strikes. You know the defense loves it.”

Baldwin’s meticulous control is followed by measured steps. Cap tugged over his eyes, he walks from the mound to the dugout as if testing thin ice. The outfielders beat him to the dugout after every inning.

“That’s me,” Baldwin said. “Everybody has their philosophy. Mine is to be conservative with my energy. When people think of somebody who walks slow, they are going to think of me.”

Moving at a considerably faster rate was Gary Sheffield on a pivotal first-inning double steal.

Sheffield, who had doubled down the right-field line to drive in Lo Duca with the tying run, got a huge jump against Cub right-hander Julian Tavarez with two out, taking third without a throw from catcher Todd Hundley.

Shawn Green moved to second on the play and Adrian Beltre made Tavarez pay for his inattentiveness by grounding a two-run single up the middle for a 3-1 lead.

“We are trying to do the little things because our offense is not as hot as it could be,” Green said. “We were trying to squeak out every run we could.”

Sheffield was three for three, raising his average to .298. He stole second base in the third inning, his seventh of the year, this time taking advantage of the weak arm of Hundley, which Sheffield and his teammates know only too well. Last year with the Dodgers, Hundley threw out only 20 of 96 runners attempting to steal.

It was all pitching and defense after the first inning. The Dodgers had eight hits, but hit into three double plays.

Baldwin was aided by several excellent outfield plays, the best coming on a drive to center by Ricky Gutierrez with two out in the fourth. Marquis Grissom backhanded the ball at full gallop near the warning track.

“The defense played a tremendous game,” Baldwin said. “It’s very special to be part of this team. Everybody picks each other up.”

Even sharing equipment. Baldwin again used Chan Ho Park’s fielder’s glove. He used it in his first Dodger start because his own hadn’t arrived from Chicago. This time it was for luck.

“I did get lucky,” Baldwin said. “They hit some balls hard.”

He also made quality pitches, inducing Gutierrez to ground into a 6-4-3 double play with two on and one out in the second and getting McGriff to pop up with two out and two on in the third.

The Cubs’ last baserunner was Ron Coomer, who singled with one out in the fourth.

“James is a phenomenal pickup for this club,” Dodger Manager Jim Tracy said. “You have to love the way he competes. He’s a strike machine and he’s added to the character and chemistry of this team.”

Not to mention the math. With starters Kevin Brown, Darren Dreifort and Andy Ashby injured, the Dodgers sorely needed someone to step up and halt the team’s longest losing streak of the season.

“We bounced back very nicely,” Tracy said. “We are a legitimate team for the postseason. We are learning how to get there.”

Like Baldwin walking to the dugout, in slow, measured steps.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

NL WEST STANDINGS

*--*

W L GB Dodgers 62 49 -- Arizona 61 49 1/2 San Francisco 61 50 1 San Diego 54 56 7 1/2 Colorado 46 64 15 1/2

*--*

*

RELATED STORIES

Big Blow: Reliever Al Levine gave up a two-run home run in the eighth inning and the Yankees defeated the Angels, 5-4. D5

Big Deal: Dave Winfield will become the first to enter the Hall of Fame wearing a Padre cap. D9

Big Help: He’s no longer playing, but Kirby Puckett is still contributing to the Twins’ success. D9

Around the Majors: D8

NL WILD CARD

*--*

W L GB Arizona 61 49 -- Houston 61 49 -- San Francisco 61 50 1/2 Philadelphia 60 50 1

*--*