Dodgers: 20 years ago today

Dizzy Dean used to say it ain't bragging if it's true.

The truth for David Cone Wednesday night was bragging can get you hurt.

Cone, the New York Mets starter, set out to prove the Dodgers were as lame as he wrote in his guest column for the New York Daily News.

What he proved in the Dodgers' 6-3 victory is that a team so overwhelmed during the regular season and so painfully beaten the night before has some life after all.

"Now we head to New York, all even," Steve Sax said. "No one thought it was possible."

Cone lasted just two innings, six less than right-hander Tim Belcher, who helped tie the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at one game apiece by pitching impressively into the ninth at Dodger Stadium.

"I'm sure he'll think twice before sitting down at a typewriter again," Belcher said of Cone. "I've seen him in interviews before and he's been very humble. I can't imagine what was on his mind.

"All he did was pour gas on our fire. We could come out very flat after a loss like last night. We came into the clubhouse very flat tonight."

Of course, the Mets didn't go down without their almost traditional ninth inning rally, scoring a run, and loading the bases before Tuesday night's hero/villain Gary Carter flied to right against Alejandro Pena to end the game.

But Belcher struck out a career-high 10 batters to give the Dodgers their first victory over New York since June 1. What made it more impressive was that Belcher was not even expected to be in the Dodgers' post-season rotation, much less Game 2.

But a hip injury to John Tudor and the demotion of slumping Tim Leary put Belcher on center stage. Cone may have played the antagonist, but Belcher's performance was the biggest lift of all.

"That was very important, that we continued to get great pitching," Mike Marshall said. "Pitching keeps you in any series."

If Cone had provided the Dodgers with an emotional advantage after Tuesday's ninth-inning, 3-2 loss, it was Belcher who shut down the Mets on just three hits heading into the ninth and put his club back in a series few thought they had a chance to win.

Cone's column chastised the Dodgers efforts in Game 1 and specifically attacked relief pitcher Jay Howell, who allowed Tuesday's game-winning double to Carter.

Cone insisted the Mets victory was justice, not luck, which brought a frown to his manager Davey Johnson.

"It was very unfortunate," Johnson said. "I hope his writing career is short lived. You can never look ahead in these series."

The Dodgers insisted Cone's comments didn't bother them, but more than one player called it "a lack of professionalism."

Even executive vice president Fred Claire, a former sportswriter, wondered aloud why Cone would pop off with his club ahead by just one game.

"If one of my players did that, I'd go back to being a sports editor and edit his copy before it got in," Claire said.

Cone originally insisted he was misquoted, but later said, "I'm not going to say I didn't say it. But it wasn't serious. I didn't mean for it to be written."

But Orel Hershiser said: "If he meant to be facetious he should have been writing for Mad Magazine."

Cone could not have expected to be out of the game after two innings, especially after winning 20 games and finishing second in the league in earned run average.

He won his 20th Friday night at Shea Stadium, but allowed two runs to St. Louis and lost the ERA title to the Cardinals' Joe Magrane (2.18 to 2.22).

But Wednesday was another story. With one out in the first, Mickey Hatcher walked. After Kirk Gibson flied to left, Cone was called for a balk with Marshall at the plate.

Marshall, who drove in the Dodgers' first run Tuesday night, singled to left scoring Hatcher.

Hatcher was the Dodgers' only lineup change over Tuesday, replacing Franklin Stubbs, who was hitless in three at-bats at first base.

Hatcher was heard from again in the second when the Dodgers scored four runs, all with two outs.

With one out, Jeff Hamilton was struck on the right elbow. Alfredo Griffin struck out. Belcher followed with a single to center, but Hamilton, watching the ball instead of third base coach Joey Amalfitano, stopped at second.

It didn't matter. Sax grounded a single to center, scoring Hamilton. Hatcher was next, and he doubled into the left-field corner, scoring Belcher and Sax.

Gibson, who did not have an hit in his first five at-bats in the series, was intentionally walked with first base open. Marshall singled to right, giving him three RBI in the series and giving the Dodgers a 5-0 lead.

Five runs was one more than the Dodgers scored in their last five regular season games against the Mets.

"This was a big win for us tonight, after a horrendous loss last night," Lasorda said. "We talked about it before the game. Scoring runs early made a big difference tonight."

Not with Belcher showing the same form that led to eight wins in his last nine decisions.

He started slowly, making 20 pitches in the first inning. With one out, Gregg Jefferies lined a ground-rule double over the low fence in the right field corner. It already was Jefferies' fourth hit of the series. Belcher immediately fell behind 3-0 on Keith Hernandez before issuing a walk.

But Darryl Strawberry, whose double broke up Hershiser's scoreless string the night before, lined to short and Griffin doubled Jefferies off second to end the inning.

Belcher fanned four batters over the next two innings and struck out the side in the fifth.

But in between, Hernandez cut the Dodgers' lead to 5-2 with a two-run homer over the center field fence.

When Strawberry followed with a single to right Dodger Stadium grew quiet. After Tuesday night's loss, no lead appeared safe.

But catcher Mike Scioscia, who was throwing well despite a late-season batting slump, gunned down Strawberry attempting to steal second. Howard Johnson flied to right to end the inning.

The Dodgers added a run in the fifth against right-hander Rick Aguilera, whose early-season elbow injury gave Cone his spot in the New York rotation.

It was a big run, stopping the momentum caused by Hernandez's home run.

But when the Mets rallied in the ninth, Lasorda paced the dugout.