clarinews@clarinet.com (09/22/89)
_ _e_x_p_a_n_d_e_d_ _l_e_a_d SAN FRANCISCO (UPI) -- Brett Butler lined a two-run double to highlight a three-run seventh inning rally that led the San Francisco Giants a 4-3 triumph and their third straight come-from-behind victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The verdict gave the Giants a three-game sweep of the series and reduced their magic number to five over the second-place San Diego Padres. The Giants lead San Diego by five games in the National League West. Kelly Downs, 4-6, yielded two runs and six hits, walking none and striking out six over seven innings. Steve Bedrosian pitched the eighth and ninth for his 23rd save. Ramon Martinez, 5-4, was the loser, allowing four runs and seven hits with six strikeouts in 6 1-3 innings. Giants' star Will Clark had to leave the game in the first inning with a bruised leg following a plate collision and is on a day-to-day status. Pinchhitter Ken Oberkfell helped light the fire in the seventh with a run-scoring single that chased starter Ramon Martinez. The single, his 14th pinch hit of the season, tied him for the league lead with Montreal's Wallace Johnson. ``Oberkfell got the big hit to keep us going and (reliever Ray) Searage just got the ball up to me and I was able to get it into left field for a double and score the runs,'' Butler said. ``We've been playing very well but it's funny, not as well as San Diego,'' Butler said. ``It's nice to know that even with this lead we have that other teams in our division aren't laying down. Maybe that gives us a little more incentive.'' Giants manager Roger Craig also had Oberkfell -- and the Padres -- on his mind. ``Oberkfel gets another big pinch hit -- he's unbelievable,'' Craig said. ``It's a big win because San Diego keeps winning. They don't know when they're beat.'' Downs, who missed two starts while recalibrating his delivery in the bullpen, ``pitched very well for not starting in a while,'' Craig said. ``I just went out to be aggressive and to not try to overthrow,'' Downs said. ``I'd been throwing at 100 percent, as hard as I could. I'd been trying to do too much. So tonight I wanted to turn it down a little bit and maybe throw 90 percent (speed) and get in a groove, which I feel I did.'' With the Giants trailing 2-1, Matt Williams led off the seventh with a single and went to second on Terry Kennedy's fielder's choice. Otis Nixon ran for Kennedy and one out later, pinch hitter Oberkfell singled to score Nixon and chase Martinez. Searage replaced Martinez and Butler greeted him with a two-run double into the left-center field gap that put the Giants ahead for good. The Giants had taken a 1-0 lead in the first when Will Clark singled and scored on Kevin Mitchell's double. Clark collided with catcher Mike Scioscia at the plate and had to leave the game with a bruised right knee. X-rays were negative and his status is day-to-day. ``When I slid in, Scioscia dropped down on my leg with all 200-plus pounds,'' Clark said. ``I've got a bruise from the knee all the way down the rest of the leg. I can't push off or put any weight on it. I tried to go back but I didn't have anything left.'' ``Scioscia did his job,'' Clark said. ``I'm just glad I scored the run. I'd hate to have to go through this pain without scoring.'' Scioscia: ``The relay throw started to tail away and it was going behind Will and the ball and Will were getting there at the same time. I was trying to make a blind catch and block the plate at the same time.'' ``It's a tough play,'' Scioscia added. ``You never like to see anyone hurt but it was simply a matter of trying to do a catcher's job, to stop a run from scoring. If i make that play, it's a big play and to be honest I've been injured more than guys who run into me.'' The Dodgers took the lead in the sixth when Lenny Harris singled with two out and scored on Eddie Murray's 20th homer. Scioscia's ninth homer cut the score to 4-3 in the ninth.