clarinews@clarinet.com (09/21/89)
_ _e_x_p_a_n_d_e_d_ _l_d SAN FRANCISCO (UPI) -- Brett Butler singled home the winning run with none out to cap a five-run ninth inning that rallied the San Francisco Giants to an 8-7 victory Wednesday night over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Trailing 7-3, San Francisco pulled off its biggest last-inning rally this season to stay five games ahead of the San Diego Padres in the National League West. Roger Craig, the Giants manager, said, ``We have come up with a lot of miracles this year. Tonight we saw another one. I normally don't get too excited, win or lose, but that one really excited me. Tom Lasorda, the Dodgers' manager, said, ``It's a crime to lose a game like that.'' Kevin Mitchell ignited the rally against Jay Howell by hitting his 46th homer. Ernest Riles singled and Matt Williams doubled him home. Terry Kennedy singled home Williams to trim the deficit to 7-6. Mike Hartley, 0-1, relieved Howell and pinch hitter Chris Speier reached on on a double as right fielder Mike Marshall tried to dive for his liner to put runners at second and third. Greg Litton singled home pinch runner Mike Benjamin to tie the score. Butler lined a single down the right-field line off reliever John Tudor for the winner. The victory went to reliever Trevor Wilson, 2-3. The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the first on singles by Alfredo Griffin and Willie Randolph and Eddie Murray's sacrifice fly. Los Angeles increased its lead to 4-0 in the second. John Shelby doubled, Rick Dempsey walked and Jose Gonzalez singled home Shelby, with Dempsey going to third. Pitcher John Wetteland sacrificed Gonzalez to second. Griffin followed with a sacrifice fly and Randolph singled home Gonzalez. The Dodgers extended their margin to 7-0 in the third. Shelby singled and stole second. Dempsey walked and Gonzalez reached on an infield single to load the bases. Wetteland doubled to clear the bases. The Giants cut the lead to 7-3 in the sixth. Butler and Robby Thompson walked. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and Mitchell scored Butler with a groundout. Riles followed with his seventh homer. Craig said said his ``kid pitc_h_e_r_s_'_'_ _r_etired 20 in a row and that means the Giants are going to win the division title. He said, ``After that game, you know it's over.''