Blanco Throws Dodgers for a Loss

It’s well-known that many Dodgers have blossomed on other major league teams.

But Henry Blanco?

The Milwaukee Brewer catcher is known primarily for possessing one of the best arms in the National League. And he threw out all three Dodger runners who tried to steal Saturday night.

However, Blanco’s lethal blow came with his bat, a two-run home run in the 10th inning that sank the Dodgers, 4-2, in front of 42,580 at Dodger Stadium.

The hit off reliever Mike Fetters (4-2) marred a strong pitching performance by Chan Ho Park and relievers Terry Adams and Jeff Shaw. The Dodgers, who struggled offensively in a 2-1 victory over the Brewers on Friday night, scored only on home runs by Gary Sheffield and Shawn Green.

Blanco is a Venezuelan signed by the Dodgers in 1989. He advanced through the farm system as a third baseman and had a three-game debut with the Dodgers in 1997.

Then he got away. The Colorado Rockies signed him as a six-year free agent in 1998 and he was traded to the Brewers as part of the deal that sent third baseman Jeff Cirillo to the Rockies.

“I spent nine years with [the Dodgers],” Blanco said. “It was time to move on. There were no hard feelings.”

Said Brewer Manager Davey Lopes: “Nobody in the league can catch and throw with him. The only question is how much he’s going to hit. And tonight, he did that too.”

After Blanco’s blast, Brewer reliever Curtis Leskanic gave up a single to Alex Cora but struck out the side for his fourth save.

The Dodgers had a chance to win in the ninth against reliever Juan Acevedo (2-4), but Blanco, who has thrown out 28 of 52 base stealers, struck then as well. Sheffield walked with one out but was thrown out trying to steal second. Green hit a bloop double to right and Eric Karros was walked intentionally, but Adrian Beltre grounded back to Acevedo.

“Chan Ho pitched a great game, but our offense is hot and cold,” Dodger Manager Davey Johnson said. “I wish I knew why.”

Park was pitching in front of his parents, who are on a weeklong visit from South Korea. He struck out eight in six innings, but gave up two home runs to Geoff Jenkins and had to battle out of jams in every inning after the third.

The left-handed hitting Jenkins homered to right field with two out in the first and went the opposite way in the sixth to give him 21 homers, equaling his total of last season. A former USC star, Jenkins was the Brewers’ first-round draft pick in 1995. Following his three-for-four performance, he is their leading hitter with a .302 average.

Park walked two in the fourth, but Tyler Houston lined out to first baseman Karros to end the threat. Jose Hernandez and Marquis Grissom singled in the fifth and were stranded when Dodger second baseman Mark Grudzielanek took a hit away from Luis Lopez with a backhand play for the third out.

Sheffield’s major league-leading 35th home run tied the score, 1-1, in the fourth against Jeff D’Amico.

Jenkins’ homer to lead off the sixth put the Brewers ahead, 2-1, and Richie Sexson followed with a double. A ground out advanced Sexson to third, but the Dodgers brought the infield in and he was thrown out at the plate by Karros on Houston’s chopper.

Jose Hernandez singled and Blanco was walked intentionally, loading the bases, and Park finished his outing by getting D’Amico to ground out to shortstop.

Green’s 19th home run tied the score in the seventh. Adams held the Brewers scoreless for two innings before giving way to Shaw, who allowed two runners but no runs in the ninth. Since returning from the disabled list July 13, Shaw has pitched 9 2/3 scoreless innings.

Dodger pitchers notched 10 strikeouts, giving them 24 in two games against the Brewers, the worst-hitting team in the league.

But Saturday night, they were good enough to beat the Dodgers (58-51), who held their ground in the West Division because the San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks both lost.