Dodgers Survive on Longest Day : They Beat Mets, 3-2, on an Error in 16th After 5 Hours

On the longest day of what has been a long and unpleasant Dodger season, it was perhaps fitting that they had to play 16 innings before finally earning their first win in almost two weeks on an unearned run.

More than five hours after the first pitch Sunday, a throwing error by New York third baseman Howard Johnson on an infield single by Mike Devereaux enabled Danny Heep to score from second base and give the Dodgers a 3-2 win over the Mets before what remained of a Dodger Stadium crowd of 29,600.

So, because of a defensive lapse by Johnson as dusk arrived and the stadium lights glimmered, the Dodgers’ losing streak ended at nine games, one short of tying the Los Angeles Dodger record for consecutive losses set in 1961.

It had been 13 days since the Dodgers (57-79) last won a game, and they certainly appeared out of practice. But they eventually pushed across the winning run in what wasn’t even their best opportunity.

While five Dodger relievers kept the Mets from scoring--rookie Tim Belcher getting the win in his major league debut--Heep opened the bottom of the 16th against Randy Myers with a walk. Dave Anderson’s sacrifice bunt moved Heep into scoring position with Devereaux up. The rookie left fielder hit a chopper down the third-base line that Johnson fielded while off-balance.

Johnson’s throw drew first baseman Keith Hernandez off the bag. The ball skidded past Hernandez and into a photographer’s well along the first-base line.

Both Dodger third-base coach Joe Amalfitano and plate umpire Bob Engle waved Heep home to end, mercifully, a long afternoon that was far more devastating to the Mets than rewarding to the Dodgers.

New York’s loss dropped the Mets 3 1/2 games behind the first-place St. Louis Cardinals in the National League East. The Dodgers built a two-game lead over San Diego in the race to avoid the West cellar.

“It was good to win,” Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda said. “Maybe now I can sleep.”

But when Lasorda awakens, he still will have the same team that came close to losing all nine games of a home stand, something only the 1913 and 1923 Brooklyn Dodger teams accomplished.

Except for the ending, this game encapsulated the Dodgers’ frustrating and futile season.

They had a 2-0 lead after six inning and a 2-1 lead in the ninth before the Mets tied it with a late (or was it early?) rally to prolong the agony. Twice in extra innings the Dodgers had the bases loaded with less than two out and failed to score.

“If it hadn’t been for that play (in the 16th), the way this game was going, we’d probably still be out there,” Hernandez said.

Lasorda’s sad refrain throughout the season--”We’re getting ‘em on but not getting ‘em in”--was never more evident than in Sunday’s extra innings. The only reason the Dodgers could smile afterward was because the Mets stranded 17 runners against Dodger pitching.

This one could have been over in the 10th against Met relievers Roger McDowell and Jesse Orosco. The Dodgers had runners on second and third with one out when Orosco intentionally walked Steve Sax to load the bases.

Up came pinch-hitter Tito Landrum, who struck out on four pitches. Then pinch-hitter Alex Trevino ran the count to 3 and 2 in the game’s most dramatic moment. With the crowd standing and roaring and the runners going, Trevino hit a towering foul ball that Met catcher Barry Lyons caught for the third out.

It also could have been over in the 12th, but the Dodgers bungled another scoring chance. They had Devereaux on second and Phil Garner on first with one out and Sax at the plate.

Sax, who unsuccessfully tried to advance the runners with a bunt, faced a 3-and-2 count against Doug Sisk. Strangely, Sax squared to bunt again--and missed for the first out. Devereaux and Garner were caught between bases and Gary Carter, who had replaced Lyons at catcher, threw to Johnson at third.

Devereaux retreated to second and Johnson threw to Bill Almon covering the bag. Garner arrived from first at about the same time, which distracted Almon enough so that Devereaux could go to third while Garner remained on second.

Even with that reprieve, the Dodgers failed to score. Pinch-hitter Mickey Hatcher was intentionally walked, bringing up Trevino once more with the bases loaded. Trevino grounded Sisk’s first pitch to shortstop for a rally-killing double play.

After the inning, Lasorda stalked around the dugout, waving his arms and brutalizing his hat. Lasorda was upset because Sax apparently was not supposed to bunt with the count 3 and 2. “It was just a mixed connection,” Lasorda said. “I don’t have to elaborate on it. Just a mixed communication.”

The Mets had a bases-loaded situation in extra innings but failed to score. New York’s chance came in the 13th against Brian Holton. With one out, Hernandez was forced at home on Rafael Santana’s grounder to Sax at second. Then Almon’s grounder forced Santana to prolong the agony.

The longer the game progressed, the more unusual the sights and sounds became. By the 14th inning, the lights come on at the same time the Dodgers sent up a pitcher (Orel Hershiser) to pinch-hit for a pitcher (Holton). Hershiser struck out.

The crowd became decidedly pro-Mets in the late innings. Belcher, who wasn’t supposed to make his major league debut until Wednesday in Cincinnati, said the crowd chanting for the Mets unnerved him a bit.

But Belcher still pitched a scoreless 15th and 16th innings to earn the win, his first in the major leagues and the Dodgers’ first since Aug. 25.

“I’m glad it’s over,” Devereaux said. “And I’m glad we won. I played a 21-inning game in San Antonio this year, and we lost that. So, this was great compared to that.”

Dodger Notes

A Chicago White Sox scout reportedly was in town over the weekend to look at Mike Marshall. Earlier in the summer, the White Sox had expressed some interest in trading for Marshall. . . . Franklin Stubbs, suffering through an 0-for-32 slump, did not start Sunday. . . . While the Dodgers continue to flounder, their Triple-A team in Albuquerque will play for the Pacific Coast League championship. After sweeping a best-of-five series against Las Vegas for the PCL’s Southern Division title, Albuquerque will meet the winner of the Tacoma-Calgary series. . . . The Dodgers concluded play against the National League East with a 26-46 record. . . . Sunday’s 5-hour 16-minute game was the longest in the National League this season.

Dodger Attendance Sunday’s attendance. . . . . 29,600 1987 Total (69 dates). . .2,535,622 1986 Total (69 dates). . .2,694,044 Decrease . . . . . . . . . .158,382 1987 Average . . . . . . . . 36,748