BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Lasorda at a Loss for Words

Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda rocked back in his chair Tuesday, tilting his head inside the locker, and hiding his eyes behind his hands.

Lasorda has endured his share of gut-wrenching defeats in his 19-year career, but at the moment, couldn’t think of any more painful than the Dodgers’ 4-3, 15-inning defeat to the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park.

“Oh my God,” Lasorda said. “I don’t believe it. I still don’t believe it.”

The Dodgers scored three runs in the top of the 15th inning, ending a 25-inning scoreless drought, only to watch the Giants score four runs in the bottom of the 15th.

“I’ve never been through anything like that in my life,” Giant left fielder Barry Bonds said.

The Dodgers seemingly had the game won when left-handed reliever Rob Murphy opened the 15th by retiring J.R. Phillips and pinch-hitter Mark Carreon. Then, he walked catcher Jeff Reed.

“That was the thing that hurt,” Lasorda said, “that really hurt.”

Murphy yielded a single to Darren Lewis, prompting Lasorda to summon right-handed Greg Hansell. Giant Manager Dusty Baker instructed Robby Thompson to get on base, giving Bonds a chance to win it.

“I wanted Robby Thompson to make sure he stayed on top of the ball and give Barry a chance,” Baker said. “I guess he didn’t listen to me.”

Said Thompson: “I listened. I got on top, but I hit the bottom half of the ball.”

The ball cleared the left field fence for a three-run homer. Bonds followed with a single, and Matt Williams hit a ball into the left-center gap. Dodger left fielder Reggie Williams, who ended the Dodgers’ scoreless streak with a run-scoring single in the top of the 15th, dove and missed.

Just like that, five hours and 16 minutes later, the longest Giant game since Sept. 28, 1986 was over.

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Fun facts from the game:

--The Dodgers used 25 players, leaving only starters Ramon Martinez, Tom Candiotti and Pedro Astacio on the bench; the Giants used 21 players.

--There were 33 strikeouts, and 14 walks.

--There were no runs and 13 hits in the first 14 innings; there were seven runs and eight hits in the 15th inning.

--The Dodgers have scored one run in 24 innings against the last four starters they’ve faced.

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Dodger catcher Mike Piazza played in his first game in five days since suffering a strained hamstring. He went two for four with a double, and said he has no ill effects. . . . Third baseman Tim Wallach is tentatively scheduled to join the Dodgers’ triple-A Albuquerque team Thursday in a rehabilitation assignment. He’s not eligible to come off the disabled list until Sunday. . . . Infielder Rafael Bournigal cleared waivers Tuesday and was outrighted to Albuquerque.