1988 Dodgers Week 15 review: 4 days, 6 games, 5 wins

The Dodgers began a grueling road trip that was scheduled for 16 games in 14 days, then became even longer with a game suspended by rain after nine innings. The Dodgers started the break by playing six games in four days in Chicago, including five that counted, and they beat the Cubs in all five contests.

The 2½-game lead at the All-Star break ballooned to seven games over the Giants in just a four-day span, prompting manager Tommy Lasorda to congratulate his clubhouse. From ''Miracle Men: Hershiser, Gibson and the Improbable 1988 Dodgers' by Josh Suchon:

"What a fucking team!" Lasorda hollered. "What a fucking team! What a fucking team! What a fucking team! What a fucking team!"

Dodger Batter of the Week: Fresh from his All-Star break, Kirk Gibson continued to be a catalyst for the offense, hitting .333 (7-for-21) with two home runs and two doubles. Mike Marshall, with a double and a home run, was the only other Dodger with more than one extra-base hit during the shortened week.

Dodger Pitcher of the Week: As a team the Dodgers allowed only 10 runs in six games, so there were many candidates. Relief pitcher Alejandro Pena narrowly edged out Tim Leary for the award. Both pitched seven scoreless innings with a walk, six strikeouts and a win. Pena gets a sliver of extra credit for his two fewer hits allowed and for spreading his output over three games, including two saves.

Pena has 12 consecutive scoreless appearances, with 19 strikeouts in 22 innings during that span. On the season he is 4-3 with eight saves and a 1.43 ERA, and enjoys his fireman role. The former starter, and 1984 National League ERA champion, likes pitching in relief, telling Sam McManis of the Los Angeles Times, "No question, I feel stronger now in the bullpen. I just do my job whenever they give me the ball."

Week 15 Record: 5-0 (plus a tie game called because of rain)

21 runs scored (3.50 per game)
10 runs allowed (1.67 per game)
.795 pythagorean winning percentage

Seasonal Record: 53-36

390 runs scored (4.33 per game)
312 runs allowed (3.47 per game)
.601 pythagorean winning percentage (53-36)

Nine innings for nothing: The Dodgers tried to play through the rain on Saturday at Wrigley Field, but after 102 minutes the game was called. Tied at 2-2 in the ninth inning, the game was officially suspended, which meant the stats from the game count but the game would be replayed from the start.

"This is tough. It's like playing six games in four days. It really puts a strain on your pitching. But (the Cubs) have to do it, too," reliever Brian Holton told McManis in the Times.

Transactions:

None this week

Game Results:

• Tuesday, July 12: American League 2, National League 1
• Thursday, July 14: Game 1 - Dodgers 1, Cubs 0 | Game 2 - Dodgers 6, Cubs 3
• Friday, July 15: Dodgers 3, Cubs 2 (10)
• Saturday, July 16: Dodgers 2, Cubs 2 (suspended, ninth inning)
• Sunday, July 17: Game 1 - Dodgers 4, Cubs 1 | Game 2 - Dodgers 5, Cubs 2

Upcoming Week: The Dodgers run the Nelson Briles Gauntlet, with three games against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium and four games against the Pirates at Three Rivers Stadium.

Previous 1988 weeks in review: Apr 4-10 | Apr 11-17 | Apr 18-24 | Apr 25-May 1 | May 2-8 | May 9-15 | May 16-22 | May 23-29 | May 30-Jun 5 | Jun 6-12 | Jun 13-19 | Jun 20-26 | Jun 27-Jul 3 | Jul 4-10

Week 15 Stats