Dodgers’ Drama Has Sad Ending

Just when Dodger Manager Davey Johnson thought one pitching problem had ended, another appears to have begun.

Disappointing starter Chan Ho Park pitched well Thursday night, but closer Jeff Shaw struggled in his third consecutive outing, giving up two runs in the 10th inning of the Houston Astros’ 4-3 victory at Dodger Stadium.

Shaw was unable to get the job done after Tripp Cromer tied the score in the bottom of the ninth with his first home run of the season before what remained of a crowd of 40,780.

Shaw (1-2) walked the leadoff batter in the 10th en route to giving up one earned run and one unearned run in one-third of an inning. He was replaced by Doug Bochtler, who worked out of a bases-loaded jam.

Raul Mondesi hit his National League-leading 15th homer with two out in the 10th against Astro closer Billy Wagner, cutting the lead to 4-3. Wagner (1-1) struck out Eric Karros looking to end the game.

The Dodgers (21-19) lost two out of three in the series. The NL Central-leading Astros (25-14) won for the seventh time in nine games.

Cromer tied the score, 2-2, with a two-out, pinch-hit home run in the ninth. Hitting for reliever Alan Mills, Cromer worked a 2-and-2 count against the hard-throwing Wagner.

Cromer crushed a ball that landed in the left-field pavilion, marking the second pinch-hit homer of his career. Cromer also accomplished the feat against the St. Louis Cardinals on July 18 last season.

Houston took a 2-1 lead in the ninth when Carl Everett scored from third on a wild pitch by Mills. Mills walked Everett to start the ninth and he stole second, going to third when catcher Angel Pena’s throw went into center.

The rookie was making his first start of the season behind the plate. In addition to his error, the ball ruled a wild pitch went between Pena’s legs.

The Dodgers tied the score, 1-1, in the seventh on a two-out, run-scoring single by Eric Young. Mark Grudzielanek led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice by Pena, who was safe at first on a throwing error by Astro starter Mike Hampton.

Trenidad Hubbard bunted into a double play while hitting for Park. Young then singled to left, driving in Grudzielanek from second with the tying run.

The Astros caught Young off first, but Hampton’s second throwing error enabled the leadoff batter to reach third, representing the go-ahead run. Young was stranded when Adrian Beltre struck out looking on a full count.

Park struggled early against the Astros, but he settled down and worked seven strong innings in one of his best outings of the season.

Park gave up five hits and one run. The right-hander struck out six and walked two while throwing 58 strikes in 94 pitches.

The Astros scored their run against Park on a towering, 430-foot solo home run by Everett to right field in the second inning. The ball landed in the second deck, marking only the sixth homer hit on that level in the stadium’s history.

But Houston wouldn’t score again with Park on the mound.

The Dodgers were left scratching their heads in search of answers after a peculiar double play nullified their scoring threat in the sixth. And the explanation didn’t satisfy Johnson.

With one out, Karros walked, and he appeared to steal second and move to third on a throwing error while Devon White struck out swinging.

However, home plate umpire Ed Montague viewed the situation differently.

Montague called batter’s interference on White, ending the inning with the double play. The call stunned White, who was quickly joined by his manager in arguing the ruling.

Johnson shouted at Montague while fans booed. Johnson returned from the dugout before the start of the seventh to share more of his thoughts with Montague.

Brian Gibbons, who worked second base Thursday, made the same call in the eighth inning of the Dodgers’ 5-2 victory Wednesday. With Beltre on first and one out, Mondesi was ruled out while Beltre appeared to steal second.

The inning didn’t end on a double play, though, because Mondesi did not strike out. Beltre simply returned to first and play resumed.