Dodgers Can’t Make It to First

The Dodgers had a chance to move into first place in the National League West before 41,197 at Dodger Stadium on Thursday night but couldn’t do it, losing to the Florida Marlins, 7-6, in 14 innings.

Gary Sheffield scored the winning run when shortstop Greg Gagne fielded Terry Pendleton’s slow roller but couldn’t make a play at the plate.

The Dodgers built a 5-1 lead after four innings, but closer Todd Worrell, who entered with a 6-4 lead in the ninth inning, gave up a two-run, two-out double to Sheffield that tied the score.

Chad Curtis, acquired from the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday and immediately inserted into the Dodgers’ starting lineup in center field in place of Wayne Kirby, tried to make a diving catch on Sheffield’s sinking liner. The two runs were unearned, coming on three hits that came after a two-out error by Gagne.

Curtis finished the game 0 for 5, and Mike Piazza and Eric Karros also struggled--going a combined 0 for 14.

The Dodgers had a chance to win it in the 10th after back-to-back singles by Todd Hollandsworth and Raul Mondesi, but Hollandsworth tried to score from third base on Juan Castro’s infield grounder, and shortstop Edgar Renteria--who had four hits--threw him out at home. Gagne forced Castro at second base and pinch-hitter Rick Parker grounded out.

Playing the aggressive style that has marked Manager Bill Russell’s 33-game tenure, the Dodgers stole a season-high six bases. They were also helped by the Marlins, who committed five errors.

Although Kirby had hit in eight of his last 10 games and was 14 for 37 (.371) during that span, Russell wanted to get a look at Curtis, acquired for left-handed relievers Joey Eischen and John Cummings.

“Chad Curtis is playing today because I haven’t seen him play and I want to see him play. It’s as simple as that,” Russell said before the game. “I’ve heard a lot of good things about his personality, so I want to see him.”

Curtis expected to play immediately.

“I’d be surprised if I wasn’t [starting],” Curtis said. “I’m not a big fan of the game. I don’t want to sit there and watch it, I want to get out there and play it.”

Although Angel hitting coach Rod Carew reportedly said Curtis was “uncoachable” when he played for the Angels in 1994, Russell said he won’t pre-judge.

“The thing with Rod and I was so blown out of proportion,” Curtis said.

“Rod and I worked together a lot, and I was going through a rough period and he was frustrated because I wasn’t able to apply some of the things he was coaching. Rod was such a great hitter, and I think sometimes it might be hard for him to be a coach because people can’t do what he did.”

Curtis, who was informed of the deal in the eighth inning of the Tigers’ 10-5 victory over the Angels at Detroit, arrived at LAX only four hours before the game after getting only three hours sleep.

He didn’t take long to produce.

After leading off the Dodger first with a walk, he advanced on Delino DeShields’ single to center field and scored the Dodgers’ first run on a throwing error by catcher Bob Natal.

On a double-steal by Curtis and DeShields, Natal’s throw hit the bat of Piazza--who had struck out on a 3-and-2 pitch--and the ball caromed down the down the line and over the head of Pendleton at third base.

Although Kirby has hit well as a leadoff hitter, Russell has no plans to platoon him and Curtis.

“I’m don’t think I’d like to platoon at this time,” Russell said. “I’m not saying for sure that I won’t do that, but I’m not leaning that way at this time. I just want to get a chance to see Chad play and see what he can do.”

Kirby did manage a run-scoring, two-out, pinch-hit single in the eighth inning that drove in Raul Mondesi to give the Dodgers a 6-4 lead.

Sheffield had helped make it 5-4 in the seventh with a two-run homer, his 29th of the season and fifth against the Dodgers.