Offerman Has an Awful Time Against Padres : Dodgers: Shortstop commits errors on three consecutive plays in 9-2 loss.

Dodger shortstop Jose Offerman stood in the infield Tuesday night with his head down, scraping the dirt with his spikes, as if he were trying to dig himself a hole.

If it were possible, he would have jumped right in, left his glove behind and escaped from the most maddening inning of his life.

As it was, he had no choice but to stand there for all the world to see, aware that his fourth inning of horrors was largely responsible for the Dodgers’ 9-2 debacle against the San Diego Padres.

Offerman, amusing a paid crowd of 10,845 at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, committed three errors in the fourth inning, tying a franchise record and only one blunder shy of the all-time major league record.

The franchise record was set June 2, 1973, by second baseman Davey Lopes, who ironically, was on hand Tuesday as the Padres’ first base coach. Center fielder Willie Davis made three errors in Game 2 of the 1966 World Series against Baltimore.

Only three shortstops in history have committed four errors in an inning, last accomplished in 1942 by Lennie Merullo of the Chicago Cubs.

It was an inning that only embellished Offerman’s reputation as an erratic shortstop, and sullied his spectacular play the first two weeks of this season.

“I don’t want to comment now,” Offerman said. “Everybody saw what happened.”

Yes, it was an inning that you had to see to believe.

When it ended, Dodger fans were booing Offerman, Padre fans were cheering him, and Offerman was confronting a fan taunting him from above the dugout.

Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda pulled Offerman away, but the damage was done, and the Dodgers had no chance to recover.

“It was a weird inning,” said Dodger starter Tom Candiotti (1-2), who consoled Offerman afterward. “I probably re-lived it all five times. It was just, so, weird.

“He made some great plays, some spectacular plays, but it just happened. I have nothing but praise for him.

“I told him, you’ve just got to say, ‘The hell with it, forget it’ . . . as frustrating at it might be.”

It all began innocently in the fourth, with the Padres clinging to a 2-1 lead.

Ken Caminiti hit a grounder to second baseman Delino DeShields for the first out, and then it officially began. Melvin Nieves hit a slower roller to Offerman, who charged the ball, but his throw was too late.

Offerman was visibly upset, but no one realized the devastating effect it would have on him.

Andujar Cedeno followed by hitting a sharp grounder toward the hole. Offerman raced to his right, made a fine play to snare the ball, but his off-balance throw to DeShields was wild, allowing Nieves to reach third. Error No. 1.

DeShields told Offerman to shrug it off, and reminded him that his next throw needed to go to the plate to prevent a run. Catcher Brad Ausmus hit a sharp grounder, even farther in the hole, and once again Offerman came up with the ball. He threw to the plate, but his throw hit Nieves in the back, and bounced into the Padre dugout. Error No. 2.

With the Dodger infield now forced to play in, pitcher Scott Sanders hit a sharp grounder, to Offerman, but this time the ball scooted between his legs and Cedeno scored. Error No. 3.

The Padres took mercy on Offerman and never hit another ball his way the rest of the inning, scored another run on Bip Roberts’ single, and took a 5-1 lead. Only one of the three runs was unearned, but the scars remained.

“In the box score, you’ll see three errors,” said Dodger first baseman Eric Karros, who went hitless the first time this season. “That won’t be any indication of how he played. It was just one of those nights.”

When Offerman came off the field, he was taunted by a fan, and stopped to argue. He was pulled away by Lasorda, and then sat alone by the water cooler. He stared across at his vacated position for nearly a minute, until backup catcher Carlos Hernandez put his left arm around his shoulders. Hernandez whispered in his ear, Offerman began gesturing in frustration, and then slammed his water cup to the ground.

Offerman stayed in the game until the Padres broke it open with a four-run sixth that included a two-run single by Tony Gwynn, celebrating his 35th birthday. Dick Schofield replaced Offerman in the seventh.

“He’s down right now, but you don’t want him to get discouraged or get down because of his defense,” Candiotti said. “He’s very, very important to this team.

“He’ll be all right.”