Abbott and Costello Could Have Scripted This

The Dodgers’ goofball mangling of a routine rundown in the top of the eighth inning--leading to the Florida Marlins’ sixth and final run of the game--had many among the Mother’s Day crowd booing the home team.

Including, no doubt, many mothers.

But then, this was a piece of defensive sloppiness not even a mother could love. It began with Marlin baserunner Mark Kotsay caught between third and home and blew up when first baseman Eric Karros ran Kotsay back to the bag and, instead of focusing on the lead runner, spun and fired to second baseman Eric Young in a futile attempt to nail the trailing runner, Dave Berg, who was retreating from third.

Karros’ throw was in the dirt and Kotsay scored just ahead of Young’s throw.

“It was a weird situation,” Dodger catcher Paul LoDuca said. “You normally try to run both runners to the same [third] base, and that’s what EY did. But then the guy [Berg] takes off for second. That threw a little wrench into it.

“But, if you get the front guy [Kotsay] before he gets home, you don’t have to worry about the other one.”

The Marlins claimed the play was plucked from their baserunning playbook.

“That’s a designed play that we work on,” Florida Manager John Boles said, a play whose success hinges on the alertness of the lead runner.

“Kotsay was the key there,” Boles said. “A lot of guys would have stayed frozen near third, but Kotsay has great instincts.”

*

Dodger center fielder Devon White had two doubles and two RBIs through five innings Sunday, giving him seven hits in 11 at-bats during the weekend series against the Marlins, but he left for a pinch-runner after the second double.

Reason: White tweaked his right hamstring while running down a drive by Florida’s Craig Counsell during the top of the fifth.

Dodger Manager Davey Johnson said he expected White to miss at least the next two games and possibly the entire Chicago series.

*

Young returned to the starting lineup for the first time since straining his right calf muscle last Monday.

ON DECK

* Opponent--Chicago Cubs, three games.

* Site--Dodger Stadium.

* Tonight--7

* TV--Fox Sports West 2.

* Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

* Records--Dodgers 17-14, Cubs 14-14.

* 1998 record vs. Cubs--5-4.

* Tickets--(323) 24-1HIT.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ ISMAEL VALDES (3-1, 3.46 ERA) VS. CUBS’ STEVE TRACHSEL (1-3, 5.25 ERA)

* Update--Valdes is coming off his first loss of the season, a 2-1 defeat last Tuesday in Montreal. He is undefeated at Dodger Stadium in 1999 and owner of the second best home ERA (1.62) in the National League, behind only Atlanta’s John Smoltz, who has a 0.78 mark at Turner Field.

Tuesday--Carlos Perez (1-3, 5.65) vs. Kyle Farnsworth (1-0, 4.63).

Wednesday--Darren Dreifort (4-2, 5.08) vs. Kevin Tapani (2-1, 2.25).