Dodger starter Mike Morgan failed to get past the fifth inning for a third consecutive start. He allowed three Pirate runs in the first inning on two singles, two walks and a sacrifice fly. He allowed two more runs in the fifth on two singles and a double. Then he was gone, having allowed five runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. In his last three starts, the former National League ERA leader is 0-3 with a 10.95 ERA. Overall he is 6-11 with a 2.61 ERA.
"The way I pitched in the first half of the season, I never thought I would hit a slump," Morgan said. "I knew I wouldn't cruise, but I didn't expect this. I don't know if I'm squeezing the ball or aiming the ball or what." Pitching coach Ron Perranoski thinks Morgan should just slow down and relax. "In the first inning he was just getting the ball and throwing it, catch and throw, catch and throw," Perranoski said. "I told him to start concentrating and when he did, it seemed to work. He needs to take his time."
Trailing 7-2 in the ninth, the Dodgers began a comeback, breaking Pirate reliever Bill Landrum's 30 2/3-inning scoreless streak in the process. Mike Scioscia doubled, Jeff Hamilton doubled, pinch-hitter Billy Bean walked, pinch-hitter Franklin Stubbs doubled and Willie Randolph walked to produce two runs and put runners on first and second for Kal Daniels, who earlier had a two-run double. Daniels drove the ball deep into the left-field corner, but Barry Bonds grabbed it as he crossed the foul line for the game's final out. . . . The Dodgers split this six-game series with the Pirates but won the season series, 7-5.
Looking like a batboy but sounding like a veteran, Santa Ana's Bean joined the Dodgers Monday--all 5 feet 11, 185 pounds of him. He was recalled from triple-A Albuquerque only a week after he was acquired from triple-A Toledo in a minor league trade with the Detroit organization.
This is the second time Bean has come to the major leagues because of an injury to Kirk Gibson. In 1987, Bean made his big league debut for Detroit by going four for six with two doubles on April 25 against Kansas City. At that time, Tiger Manager Sparky Anderson called Bean a future great player. Bean was sent back to the minor leagues 25 games later. He played only 10 big league games last season. He left the Tiger organization with a .247 average with no homers and four RBIs in 36 games. "Looking back, as much as those things Sparky said helped me, they also hurt me," Bean said. "But he did give me a chance." Bean says he's ready for a new start where the expectations aren't quite so high. Look for him to help out with late-inning defense--he has yet to make a major league error--and as a part-time starter. Bean is one of the top all-time hitters at Loyola Marymount. He was drafted in the fourth round by the Tigers when he graduated in June, 1986.
