Looking Like a Lost Cause

It’s over.

Not mathematically. Not officially. Not while the Dodgers still have four games to play and trail the National League West-leading San Francisco Giants by 2 1/2 games.

But it’s over if body language in the Dodger clubhouse Wednesday night is any indicator, if the long faces and gritted teeth and downcast eyes are accurate signs, if all the talk in hushed tones of what went wrong are taken as concession speeches.

The Dodgers lost more than a game Wednesday at Dodger Stadium in falling to the San Diego Padres, 4-1, in front of 39,184 on a day when the San Francisco Giants rallied to beat the Colorado Rockies, 4-3.

The Dodgers seemed to lose heart, to lose all but the faintest of hope that even winning their final four games in Colorado beginning today will be enough to win the West.

Even if the Dodgers were to do so, two victories by the Giants in their remaining three games, all against the Padres, would be enough to give them the division title and knock the Dodgers out of postseason play for the first time since the strike season of 1994.

“Two days ago, we said we needed to win all six games we had left,” second baseman Eric Young said after his team lost for the sixth time in its last seven games and the 11th time in its last 15. “That is not a possibility now. I thought we could do a lot better. It’s disappointing. I don’t know what happened. I just have to look at myself.”

Said center fielder Otis Nixon, “We hit the wall at the wrong time and there ain’t anything in the world anyone can do about it.”

In all corners of the Dodger clubhouse, the conversations seemed the same. Lots of questions. No answers.

” We have put ourselves in a real corner,” first baseman Eric Karros said. “I have no analysis [of what went wrong]. That’s not my job. My job is to go out and play.”

What went wrong in Wednesday’s game, the last of the season at Dodger Stadium unless there is an incredible comeback, can best be described in two words: Joey Hamilton.

The San Diego right-hander (11-7) came into the game under the weight of a four-game losing streak. He had not won since Aug. 6, and he had a 5.47 earned-run average over his last eight starts.

But you’d never know it from watching Hamilton dominate the Dodgers. He went eight innings, giving up a run on five hits before Trevor Hoffman closed out the game in the ninth to collect his 37th save.

The Dodgers took the field with their expectations already lowered, having learned that San Francisco had taken another Giant step toward the division crown earlier in the day.

The Dodgers’ expectations were lowered another notch in the first inning when outfielder Steve Finley hit a pitch from Tom Candiotti (10-7) down the right-field line for his 28th home run.

The Dodgers got a lift in the second, when, with the bases loaded, shortstop Greg Gagne singled to right to tie the score.

It broke an 0-for-22 streak for Gagne. Maybe the team’s fortunes, like his, were turning around.

Not quite.

With the bases still loaded and a chance to get a lead, Candiotti grounded into a double play.

In the fifth, Ken Caminiti smacked his 26th homer to left-center with Tony Gwynn aboard and the Dodgers were not heard from again.

In the ninth, the Padres added a final run when pinch-hitter Trey Beamon singled, stole his first base of the season and scored when Finley squirted a double over third against reliever Scott Radinsky.

Then injury was added to insult.

Radinsky hit Gwynn, who reacted with uncharacteristic anger, feeling it was an act of retribution for two batters hit earlier by Hamilton or frustration at the hit by Finley.

And after the pitch glanced off Gwynn’s right elbow, it smacked catcher Mike Piazza on the left forearm, breaking a blood vessel.

Piazza was taken out as a precautionary measure, but later said he could have stayed in if he was going to hit in the bottom of the ninth.

As it turned out, the Dodgers went in order in the ninth, completing a string of 11 Dodgers retired by San Diego to close out the game.

And perhaps their season.

“There’s still a slight chance, however small it is,” Piazza said. “Nobody is throwing in the towel. We have to hope for the best. That’s all we can do.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

THE WEST / Stretch Drive

STANDINGS

*--*

TEAM W L GB GIANTS 87 71 -- DODGERS 85 73 2 1/2

*--*

MAGIC NUMBER:

GIANTS

2

THE FINAL 9

Dodgers vs. Rockies: L, 6-4 SEPT. 19

Dodgers vs. Rockies: L, 2-1 SEPT. 20

Dodgers vs. Rockies: L, 10-5 SEPT. 21

OFF, SEPT. 22 Dodgers vs. Padres, W, 6-2 SEPT. 23

Dodgers vs. Padres, L, 4-1 SEPT. 24

Dodgers at Rockies, SEPT. 25

Dodgers at Rockies, SEPT. 26

Dodgers at Rockies, SEPT. 27

Dodgers at Rockies, SEPT. 28

THE FINAL 9

Giants at Padres: W, 7-4 SEPT. 19

Giants at Padres: L, 12-2 SEPT. 20

Giants at Padres: W, 8-5 SEPT. 21

Giants at Padres: W, 11-5 SEPT. 22

Giants at Rockies, L, 7-6 SEPT. 23

Giants at Rockies, W, 4-3 SEPT. 24

OFF, SEPT. 25

Giants vs. Padres, SEPT. 26

Giants vs. Padres, SEPT. 27

Giants vs. Padres, SEPT. 28

COVERAGE

Randy Harvey

It was not a night of sweet reflection at Dodger Stadium, except when Brett Butler appeared. C2

Dodger Report: C7

GIANT BOX SCORE: C6

NL CENTRAL

The Pirates lost, so if the Astros defeat the Cubs today, they win the division. If the Astros lose, the Pirates will need to sweep Houston this weekend to force a one-game playoff. C6