Burkett Bowls Over Dodgers, 3-1

He is a bowler from Pennsylvania who not only rolls strikes, but knows how to throw them.

Tuesday, John Burkett’s sinkerball found the zone frequently as he pitched the San Francisco Giants to a 3-1 victory over the Dodgers and became the National League’s first 12-game winner.

“This is my fourth year, and I know the hitters better and I know one thing: I’m better at pitching out of jams,” said Burkett (12-2), who also aspires to be a professional bowler.

Burkett found himself in only one real jam Tuesday. In the ninth inning, he had his fourth consecutive victory all but wrapped up. For eight innings, he had held the Dodgers scoreless, allowing only three hits and walking only one.

Only two Dodgers had reached second base, both on doubles--Eric Karros in the second inning and Jose Offerman in the sixth. The only other hit against Burkett came in the fifth inning, when Henry Rodriguez singled to center.

After Karros’ double, Burkett walked Piazza, Burkett’s first walk in 124 batters. That was the only time the Dodgers had two runners on base through eight innings, and Burkett retired the next three batters.

But in the ninth, after he struck out Offerman, Burkett walked Cory Snyder and hit Karros with a pitch. Giant Manager Dusty Baker signaled for Rod Beck, who struck out Piazza. Eric Davis’ single to right field scored Snyder.

Then Beck earned his 23rd save.

Burkett gave credit to his teammates. “I’m a sinkerball pitcher, so I try to keep the walks down and the defense can help you,” he said. “These guys score runs early and often. Orel (Hershiser) had a good game and threw the ball well, but we got to him early and the two runs stood up.”

It was a bad sign for the Dodgers when the Giants jumped on Hershiser for two runs in the first inning. The Dodgers needed a good appearance from Hershiser, who has alternated with good and poor starts over his last few games, and the Giants have a 36-8 record when they score first. In their last 25 games, they have outscored opponents, 25-4, in the first inning.

Hershiser was shaky in the first inning. Thompson hit a one-out bloop single that dropped in left field, behind Snyder, who started at third base in place of Tim Wallach, who was resting the pinched nerve in his neck and his sore left shoulder.

After Will Clark flied out to center, Hershiser walked Barry Bonds intentionally. But the move backfired when Willie McGee’s line drive to left-center field fell out of the glove of a diving Eric Davis for a double. Thompson and Bonds scored to put the Giants ahead, 2-0.

“It wasn’t frustrating pitching. The frustrating part was having Willie McGee’s hit fall in,” said Hershiser (6-7). “Eric made a good attempt. He’s known for his defense.

“We’re not the only ones who need to beat the Giants. So does everyone else. The team has supported me great defensively in the last couple of games.”

After the first inning, Hershiser retired 13 batters in a row until Robby Thompson hit a 1-and-0 pitch into the left-field seats for his ninth home run, giving the Giants a 3-0 lead.

Hershiser left the game for pinch-hitter Dave Hansen in the eighth inning, having given up five hits and three runs.

Entering Monday’s game, Hershiser had been impressive in two of his last three starts, when he pitched 8 2/3 and nine innings, holding opponents to one run in each outing. In his last outing, on June 24, he suffered his toughest loss this season, a 1-0 complete game against the Houston Astros.

“If he’s hitting the corners, he’s tough and we ran into a tough pitcher tonight,” Karros said of Burkett. “Orel pitched a good game, too. Sometimes we score him a lot of runs, sometimes we don’t.”