Lasorda’s Hunch on Madlock Falls Short in a Pinch

All indications are that Bill Madlock’s days as a Dodger are numbered, most likely in single figures. But until the Dodgers make good on his trade demand, Madlock knows he has to try to make good when called upon.

The unexpected beckoning from the bench came in the midst of a seventh-inning rally during the Dodgers’ 3-1 loss to the Montreal Expos Monday night before 39,091 at Dodger Stadium.

Madlock, unhappy that he lost his starting third-base job to rookie Tracy Woodson, was brought in to pinch-hit for Franklin Stubbs with one out and runners on second and third.

One pitch later, Madlock was back on the bench after smashing a one-hopper back to reliever Andy McGaffigan.

What turned out to be the most promising Dodger threat of the night was snuffed when pinch-hitter Ralph Bryant, the next batter, flied to center.

In a way, Madlock’s pinch-hit appearance mirrored the Dodgers’ frustrations against starter Lary Sorensen, who got the win in a rare start, and McGaffigan, who earned his sixth save.

The Expos hit Dodger starter Rick Honeycutt hard enough to score two runs in the first inning and another in the sixth before the Dodgers gave way to Brian Holton and Ken Howell. But neither Honeycutt nor the Dodger relievers were rewarded for holding the Expos to three runs.

That’s because Dodger hitters, sufficiently productive in road victories over the New York Mets earlier in the Memorial Day weekend, went dry.

They hit Sorensen hard in the first inning, but only scored once when Steve Sax doubled and scored on Ken Landreaux’s fly ball. The Dodgers were shut out the rest of the way, putting up little resistance until the seventh inning.

A slow-moving and uneventful game was injected with some dramatics when Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda, well aware of Madlock’s aversion to pinch-hitting, sent him up there anyway with the Expos’ lead in sight. Lasorda, who hasn’t commented on Madlock’s trade request, called it a hunch.

“I knew the minute I put in Madlock, (Montreal Manager Buck Rodgers) would bring in the right-hander (McGaffigan to replace left-hander Bob McClure), but I had a feeling (Madlock) was going to hit him,” Lasorda said. “Very rarely will I take Stubby out for the pinch-hitter in that situation, but this was something I wanted to do.”

But the move backfired, when Madlock hit a hard one-bouncer to McGaffigan.

“What can you do?” Lasorda said with a shrug.

Stubbs, who has been benched several times this season when the Dodgers opposed left-handed starters, said he did not mind that he was pulled.

“(Lasorda) is doing what he thinks is best,” Stubbs said. “I know I can hit left-handers, but I think Tommy just had a feeling about Madlock. (Lasorda) talked to me about it.”

Madlock, who is hitting .183, didn’t stay around long enough to talk about his cameo appearance. But before Monday’s game, he reiterated his desire to be traded.

Fred Claire, the Dodger vice president, said he talked with Steve Greenberg, Madlock’s agent, Monday afternoon.

Claire reiterated the club’s position that it will try to work out a trade.

“Steve did not have a chance to talk to Bill when I talked to him at noon, but we’re going to talk tomorrow after he talks with Bill,” Claire said. “It’s hard to exactly say what the time frame will be, but we’ll address it right away. It won’t linger. We’ll make all the calls (to other clubs) and explore our options. Bill is an outstanding hitter. I’m sure there are clubs out there interested.”

Madlock, however, earns $850,000 this season, which might scare off prospective teams. The Dodgers might have to release Madlock and assume his contract, as they did with Jerry Reuss.

Greenberg said Claire is expected to call him today to report the Dodgers’ progress in attempts to trade Madlock.

“I would say this week, the Dodgers will do something,” Greenberg said Monday night. “At this point, the ball is in their court. I can’t tell them where to trade Bill. Al (Campanis, former Dodger vice president) told me there was some interest (in Madlock) this spring and last winter. They’ll have to look at who’s going bad and who needs a DH.”

Madlock’s wasn’t the only Dodger bat silenced Monday night. Sorensen, taking full advantage of a spot start in place of the struggling Jay Tibbs, gave up only one run and two hits in 6 innings. McClure, meanwhile, gave up the seventh-inning single to Mike Scioscia, the only batter he faced. And McGaffigan only allowed a ninth-inning single to Pedro Guerrero, who then stole second but was stranded there when Scioscia struck out to end the game.

Honeycutt, meanwhile, did not have control of his most effective pitch--the sinker. He struggled in every inning but the second and used some good pitching to work his way out of self-created jams. He left after six innings with his earned-run average at 1.71, best in the National League.

Tim Raines, who had three hits, one RBI and a diving catch in the outfield in the first inning, showed Los Angeles fans what they missed when the Dodgers passed on Raines’ free-agent overtures.

Mitch Webster, formerly in the Dodger organization, also had three hits, an RBI and scored two runs. And Casey Candaele, the Expos’ center fielder and leadoff batter, added two hits.

The Expos’ hitting through three innings equaled the Dodgers’ output for the entire game, which had Lasorda grousing.

“I don’t know what it was,” Lasorda said. “We just couldn’t hit the ball. We hit it hard early, but. . . . When you hold a club to three runs at home, you got to think you’re going to win. But unfortunately, we didn’t.”

Dodger Notes

Mike Marshall took batting practice for the first time Monday afternoon after surgery earlier in the month to remove a wart and free a nerve in his left-index finger. He reported no problems. “It’s a little sore, but it was my first time hitting,” Marshall said. “When my hand is ready, I’ll play because my back feels good.” Originally, Marshall was only supposed to hit off a tee, but he said he felt so good after a few swings that he decided to face live pitching. Physical therapist Pat Screnar says it is still unknown when Marshall will come off the disabled list. . . . In addition to examining Marshall, team physician Frank Jobe monitored the progress of Len Matuszek, who is on the disabled list with a partial tear of the tissue on the bottom of the foot. Jobe said that Matuszek won’t return for another two weeks.