Dodgers Find a Way to Lose to Giants Again

The Dodgers keep telling themselves they’re the team to beat in the National League West.

They keep telling themselves that they can match up with the Atlanta Braves and have as much chance as anyone to reach the World Series.

Yet, after blowing another game Saturday afternoon to the San Francisco Giants, 7-6, they wonder if anyone really believes it, least of all themselves.

“It seems like we’re finding ways to lose, which is not good,” catcher Mike Piazza said. “I can’t explain it. We should have blown a few of these teams away. We should have teams down six or seven runs, and we’re not doing it.

“It seems like it’s snowballing right now.

“It’s very, very frustrating.

“These are teams we should be beating if we expect to contend.”

The Dodgers (51-48) not only squandered the 5-1 lead they owned in the fourth inning in front of 50,014 at Candlestick Park--the largest in two years--but blew two save opportunities in the final three innings.

They walked off the field in disbelief after second baseman Robby Thompson hit a two-run, bases-loaded single with one out in the ninth inning off closer Todd Worrell for the game-winner.

It not only provided the Giants with rare back-to-back victories, but was the first time since Aug. 9-10, 1995, that they managed successive one-run victories.

Perhaps the Giants can’t beat anybody else, but they sure have the Dodgers’ number, beating them more times than any team in the league, except for the Florida Marlins.

The Dodgers, who a week ago appeared to be poised to run away from the pack, suddenly have lost six of their last eight games--their worst stretch since the opening week of the season.

Worst of all is that their hated rival is responsible for their mess.

This is hardly a team in contention for a playoff spot, much less respectability. The Giants entered the day with the third-worst record in all of baseball. They have players openly asking to be traded, openly ridiculing management and openly conceding they have lost their motivation. They have lost 21 of their last 27 games since June 19.

So, how do you think the Dodgers feel knowing that four of those six victories came against them?

“We shouldn’t be losing games the way we are,” Piazza said. “If they outplayed us, it would be one thing, but we’re beating ourselves right now. I don’t think you’ll find anybody on their side who’ll disagree.

“Not to take anything away from them, but we gave it to them--bottom line.”

The Dodgers, leading, 5-1, in the fourth inning and threatening to make the game a rout, blew not only several scoring opportunities, but two save opportunities.

Dodger starter Pedro Astacio (4-7), who has only one victory since May 18 despite pitching as well as anyone on the staff, left the game with a 5-3 lead in the seventh inning. Before he could ice his arm, the lead evaporated.

Reliever Antonio Osuna yielded a two-out single off the right-field wall to Kirt Manwaring. Osuna then had a 0-and-2 count on leadoff hitter Marvin Bernard, but watched in disbelief when Bernard hit an opposite-field home run into the left-field seats. Just like that, the game was tied, 5-5.

The Dodgers took a 6-5 lead in the eighth inning on third baseman Mike Busch’s run-scoring single, but with one out and the bases loaded, they failed to score again. Pinch-hitter Roger Cedeno struck out and Delino DeShields grounded out.

Dodger left-hander Mark Guthrie pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning, and turned the ball over to Worrell in the ninth.

He last had a save opportunity July 6 against the Colorado Rockies, and since has pitched only twice. If he was rusty, it showed.

Steve Scarsone led off with a single to right field. Jacob Cruz laid down a bunt, but Worrell opted to try to get Scarsone at second base. The ball sailed into center field and Scarsone was safe. Worrell got a temporary reprieve when he threw out Scarsone at third base on Kirt Manwaring’s bunt for the first out.

Benard singled to right field, loading the bases for Thompson, who is batting .222. Worrell got ahead, 0-and-2, and then believed he had Thompson struck out on a 1-and-2 curveball. Thompson hit the next pitch past a diving Busch, and Cruz and Manwaring scored to win the game.

“We’re just not playing well,” said Dodger first baseman Eric Karros, who went 0 for 5 and has only one homer and three RBIs since July 4. “I don’t know what’s going on. I know I’ve been worthless since the break.

“I wish I had the answers, but I don’t.”