Astros Spoil This Anniversary Party : Dodgers: Centennial celebration ends in disappointment as Houston scores twice in the ninth inning to win, 6-5.

Appropriately, on the centennial anniversary of the Dodgers’ first victory in the National League, fans were treated to a few things Saturday night that happen about once every 100 years.

--Eddie Murray committed an error. It was the Dodger first baseman’s first error in 123 games, since May 30 of last season.

--Casey Candaele of the Houston Astros hit a home run. It was the second homer of the infielder’s career. The first, in 1987 with Montreal, was considered so special the Expos painted the seat at Olympic Park.

--Jay Howell blew a lead.

That final oddity is what the Dodgers will remember, as Howell was handed a 5-4 lead in the ninth inning and gave up two runs, resulting in a 6-5 loss to the Astros before 48,434 at Dodger Stadium.

Howell had not allowed an earned run in two appearances this season, and cost the Dodgers losses in three of 56 appearances last season. But none of that made what happened Saturday any easier to accept.

“I stunk,” said Howell, who battled shoulder stiffness last week but did not blame his problems on anything physical. “I am not searching for any excuses. The team did their job. I did not do mine.”

After the Dodgers had taken a 5-4 lead on an error by Ken Caminiti in the sixth, the Astros had managed only one hit over the next three innnings off starter Fernando Valenzuela and reliever Don Aase. In came Howell to finish the game in the ninth.

Three pitches later there was trouble, on a ground ball single to right by Rafael Ramirez. Up stepped pinch-hitter Ken Oberkfell, who led the major leagues in pinch-hits with 18 last season. He lined a double past Murray that scored Ramirez.

Gerald Young replaced Oberkfell on second base. Two pitches later, he raced home when pinch-hitter Terry Puhl blooped an 0-and-2 fastball to left field for the game-winning single.

“If you wanted to cite a mistake, that 0-and-2 pitch was it,” Howell said. “I can’t allow something like that. But the guys know I’m busting my butt. . . . And I know this certainly won’t carry over.”

The Dodgers had a chance in the ninth against reliever Dave Smith, as Juan Samuel led off with a single. But Samuel was thrown out attempting to steal by catcher Craig Biggio.

“I was given the sign to run, but my legs just don’t run fast enough,” Samuel said.

After Willie Randolph walked, Chris Gwynn struck out and Murray grounded to second to end the game. Gwynn, starting in left for the injured Kal Daniels, went hitless in five at-bats. He left the bases loaded in the sixth.

Howell lost a victory for a pitcher who really understands frustration. Fernando Valenzuela, despite allowing four runs on seven hits over six innings, was poised for his first win, which would have come 47 days before last season’s first victory. But he remains 0-2.

Valenzuela thought the game was won in the sixth on a bases-loaded error by Caminiti, who bobbled Randolph’s grounder. The bases had been loaded against reliever Juan Agosto on singles by Mike Scioscia and Alfredo Griffin and a walk to Mickey Hatcher.

The Astros’ ninth inning ruined all that, and spoiled the Dodgers anniversary day celebration.

The pregame festivities delayed the start of the game, which was scheduled for 7:05, by 34 minutes. The Astros, unlike the public, had been told the game would start about 7:20 p.m., so they didn’t protest. But Fred Claire, Dodger vice president, was ready with a response.

“It’s not easy covering 100 years in 10 minutes,” Claire said with a smile. “If they had wanted to protest, I would have told them, ‘You try it.’ ”

After the Astros took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on Glenn Davis’ homer, the Dodgers scored a run in their half of the inning on Murray’s double, but the Astros scored again in the third on Bill Doran’s double.

“They give me runs, and I give them back,” Valenzuela said.

After the Dodgers had taken a 4-3 lead in the fourth inning thanks to another grounder off Caminiti’s chest that allowed a run, Valenzuela let the Astros tie it again in the fifth by giving up the homer to Candaele. He almost gave up more later in the inning, after the bases became loaded on a walk, an infield hit, and a grounder by Davis that bounced off Murray’s glove for an error. But he struck out Glenn Wilson to end the threat.

Dodger Notes

Jeff Hamilton, suffering from a torn rotator cuff, was placed on the 15-day disabled list as expected. As an indication of the potential seriousness of Kal Daniels’ twisted side, in replacing Hamilton, the Dodgers ignored triple-A middle infielder Jose Vizcaino and recalled left-handed hitting first baseman Brian Traxler. By doing this, they are giving the third base job to the platoon of Mike Sharperson and Lenny Harris, but not filling a backup infielder spot previously held by the two players.

Traxler hit .301 in 64 games at triple-A Albuquerque last season and was hitting .296 in seven games this year. He was counseled by Manager Tom Lasorda this spring about his biggest problem--his weight. Traxler, 5-foot-10, has since dropped 15 pounds, putting him at around 200 pounds. He is not a home run hitter--he has just 14 in his two full minor league seasons. “With Kal hurt, we wanted to get a left-handed bat in there,” Vice President Fred Claire said. Daniels hit off a tee in a batting cage and his side, twisted Friday night, was still bothering him. “I thought I’d be able to play, but it’s still sore,” Daniels said. “I’ll watch it day to day.”

Look for the Dodgers to make a determination about surgery for Hamilton within 10 days, after evaluating the results of rest and rehabilitation. He received another scare Saturday when he tried lifting a small weight with his right arm, and then his left arm. The right arm was noticeably weaker. “Whatever it takes to get my arm stronger, I will do,” Hamilton said.