Dodgers Make Stand When It Turns Ugly at Wrigley

In a bizarre ninth-inning altercation that might produce suspensions and litigation, Dodger players entered the Wrigley Field stands and fought fans Tuesday night after backup catcher Chad Kreuter was allegedly struck in the head during the Dodgers’ 6-5 victory.

The Dodgers said a drunken fan hit Kreuter and took his cap while he sat in the uncovered visitors’ bullpen along the right-field line. Players and coaches in the bullpen and nearby dugout raced to Kreuter’s aid, climbing the wall and fighting fans until stadium security restored order.

At least three fans were handcuffed and ejected while play was stopped.

In on-field action, Jeff Shaw nailed down his ninth save--and the win for reliever Alan Mills (1-1)--once play resumed after a nine-minute delay. Todd Hundley hit an eighth-inning, three-run home run before 38,860 to give the Dodgers the lead for good.

“Somebody smoked [Kreuter] in the back of the head, and my guys aren’t going to stand for that,” said Dodger Manager Davey Johnson, who also went into the stands. “They went to try to help him get his hat back, and then some other altercations started up.

“There were some guys drunk down there and it was really rowdy. There was beer flying all over the place. . . .

“There’s a lot of adrenaline when someone goes after one of your players. It’s disappointing, it marred a great game.”

Dodger General Manager Kevin Malone said he was disappointed in the lack of security in the area.

“There has to be better security measures down there,” Malone said. “There has to be better protection for the players because there was no one down there to police those fans.

“It [the altercation] just kept going on and there was no security there. Our players were at risk, and they were just protecting themselves. That was just self-protection.”

Said Cub General Manager Ed Lynch: “We certainly don’t condone this type of behavior. Our staff is trying to sort out [what occurred].”

Commissioner Bud Selig is expected to review tapes of the incident before deciding on possible disciplinary action. Moreover, players and coaches might be faced with lawsuits from fans.

A Chicago police department spokesman confirmed that some fans were arrested. With much to be determined, the Dodgers spoke cautiously after the melee.

It was unclear how many players went into the stands and what their roles were in the incident. Malone, in consultation with team counsel Sam Fernandez, instructed players to decline comment.

“I’m fine,” Kreuter said. “The game was out on the field. That’s all there is to it.”

Others still expressed frustration about the incident.

“The whole thing was just disgusting,” said Hundley, who homered against Kevin Tapani (1-5). “They [fans] came after us and we were only trying to protect our guys and get them out of there.”

The Dodgers said Kreuter was struck in the head while sitting with his back to the brick wall that separates the stands from the field. Someone then took his cap and Kreuter tried to retrieve it, igniting the incident.

“I’ve never seen anything like that in my 12 years in the game,” Dodger left fielder Gary Sheffield said. “The first thing you think about is the safety of your teammates. You don’t know what they [fans] might do to you.

Cub Manager Don Baylor said he tried to pull Dodger players out of the stands during the melee.

“It’s your worst nightmare--players going into the stands,” Baylor said. “They [fans] throw beer, they say things, but that’s one of those unwritten rules: Stay out of the stands. If a guy comes onto the field, that’s a different story. If you go into the stands, you’re asking for trouble.”