Dodger Expectations Eroded

The Dodgers returned home after a draining 4-3 loss to the San Diego Padres on Sunday afternoon, capping a miserable first trip for a team facing huge expectations.

They finished 2-5 after the Padres rallied for their second victory in the three-game series against the team expected to win the National League West, pleasing a Qualcomm Stadium crowd of 51,341 on a spectacular Southland day.

Pinch-hitter Phil Nevin’s run-scoring double in the eighth inning against reliever Alan Mills provided the go-ahead run. An error by Mills on a pick-off throw put the winning run on third base with one out.

Padre Manager Bruce Bochy summoned dominant closer Trevor Hoffman to pitch the ninth, meaning the Dodgers were finished.

Hoffman struck out Jose Vizcaino and Gary Sheffield, and Raul Mondesi popped out to end a forgettable week for the Dodgers. Hoffman earned his second save and secured the victory for reliever Dan Miceli (1-0), who pitched a scoreless eighth.

Padre leadoff batter Quilvio Veras caused the Dodgers fits.

Veras gave the Padres a 2-1 lead in the fifth with a solo homer against starter Ismael Valdes, who struggled with his command in 6 1/3 innings because of a blister on the middle finger of his right hand. Veras tied the score in the seventh, 3-3, with a run-scoring single against loser Onan Masaoka (0-1).

The Dodgers wasted home runs by Mondesi and Eric Karros, stranded 10 runners, had only one hit with 10 runners in scoring position and made mistakes at key moments. So it was business as usual on the road.

“Well, that was a tough one,” Dodger Manager Davey Johnson said. “Hate to kind of beat ourselves like that, but that’s what we did. You have to tip your cap to them, they got the timely hits.

“We had opportunities to break it open, with key guys up there, and we just didn’t get it done. And you can’t make mistakes late in ballgames. Those things just kill ya.”

That formula also contributed to the Dodgers dropping three of four games against the Arizona Diamondbacks to begin the week.

On Sunday, it briefly appeared the Dodgers might overcome themselves.

They went ahead, 3-2, in the seventh on one- and two-out solo homers by Mondesi and Karros, respectively, against reliever Donne Wall.

Mondesi tied the score, 2-2, with his fifth homer. Mondesi’s homers have either tied scores or given the Dodgers leads. Karros’ third homer put the Dodgers ahead, though not for long.

The blasts by Mondesi and Karros gave the Dodgers hope despite their missed opportunities. The Dodgers tied the score, 1-1, in the fifth on a one-out, run-scoring double by Mondesi, but they left the bases loaded.

Then the Dodgers unraveled in the eighth.

With one out, Masaoka walked Wally Joyner and was replaced by Mills, who has been outstanding to that point, being charged with only one earned run in 6 1/3 innings spanning seven appearances.

But anyone can have a bad day, and Mills did because of his error on the pick-off throw.

The speedy Reggie Sanders ran for Joyner, and Mills was intent on trying to keep Sanders from stealing second and moving into scoring position. Catcher Todd Hundley has thrown out only two of 15 baserunners this season while recovering from reconstructive surgery on his throwing elbow in September 1997.

Mills’ throw to first baseman Karros went behind Sanders, who wound up on third.

Then Nevin came through for the Padres.

Hitting for Miceli, Nevin doubled to right and Sanders jogged home to close the scoring.

Hoffman began the ninth 23 for 23 in save situations against the Dodgers, and his 24th opportunity went smoothly.

“We did some good things; we had a lot of close games [on the trip],” Johnson said. “Three and four would have been a lot better than 2-5, but there are better things to come.”

Better things are expected.