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Final Futility Haunts the Dodgers : Baseball: Butler is astounded as blown chance in the 13th inning results in 1-0 loss Friday.

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TIMES STAFF WRITER

With the previous night’s game against the San Francisco Giants having been completed only hours earlier, the question running through the Dodger clubhouse Saturday was still fresh, still haunting.

“When was the last time I got on third base with none out and didn’t score?” Brett Butler asked.

“Has it happened this year? Can you believe it happened last night?”

Butler was referring to the Dodgers’ rally in the top of the 13th inning Friday that produced three baserunners with fewer than two outs--but no runs.

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The Giants capitalized by loading the bases in their half of the 13th and scored the winning run when Kevin Gross hit Kevin Mitchell in the shoulder with a pitch to give the Giants a 1-0 victory.

The 4-hour, 14-minute game equaled the Dodgers’ longest games this season in innings, even though it seemed much longer to the Dodgers because they got only two hits in the last six innings against four pitchers.

One of those hits, however, was a bad-hop grounder by Butler to start the 13th that bounced past third baseman Matt Williams and into shallow left field. Butler then stole second.

Juan Samuel attempted a sacrifice bunt that was hit too hard, and as pitcher Jeff Brantley scooped up the ball, he had a play at third base. But he threw the ball into the ground in front of Williams, allowing Butler to beat the throw, putting runners on first and third with none out.

Kal Daniels, usually due up next, had been removed after the 10th inning in a double switch. Manager Tom Lasorda went with pinch-hitter Stan Javier, who had three hits in his last 36 pinch at-bats. Javier struck out while Samuel was stealing second.

Darryl Strawberry was then walked intentionally to load the bases. This brought up Eddie Murray, who, despite two hits earlier in the game, was hitting .174 since the All-Star break. Murray was jammed on a 1-and-1 pitch, fouling it to Williams.

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That brought up Gary Carter, who hit a grounder to second baseman Greg Litton to end the inning. Brantley thrust a fist into the air while the fans roared.

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