Dodgers Avoid the Crutch and Win in Clutch

The Dodgers could use the forced resignation of former general manager Kevin Malone as an excuse to fail, citing another circuslike atmosphere at Chavez Ravine.

Of course, they had better not try as long as Jim Tracy is in the dugout.

The first-year Dodger manager believes in personal responsibility, and the Dodgers appear to be following Tracy’s lead.

They increased their winning streak to four games Saturday night with a 7-6 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium, again relying on one another instead of crutches.

“When I gave my sermon in spring training, [the departure of Malone] was one of the situations I was talking about,” Tracy said. “This is one of the crutches so to speak that’s built in--but we don’t need it.

“There are a lot of capable, talented people in that room [the clubhouse]. I’ve known that all along, and they’re proving that right now.”

Alex Cora’s eighth-inning, one-out, opposite-field, run-scoring single over a drawn-in infield provided the go-ahead run, stirring cheering in a crowd of 37,322.

Hiram Bocachica scored from third base after he doubled off Philadelphia closer Ricky Bottalico (1-1) and advanced to third on Angel Pena’s sacrifice bunt.

Matt Herges (1-1) got the victory despite giving up a two-out, two-run home run in the eighth to Marlon Anderson that tied the score, 6-6, and closer Jeff Shaw worked a 1-2-3 ninth with two strikeouts for his seventh save.

Starter Darren Dreifort pitched six innings in the no-decision and hit a solo homer.

True to recent form, the Dodgers found a way, and it must have seemed like deja vu to the Phillies.

The Dodgers defeated Philadelphia, 4-3, Friday on Cora’s sacrifice fly in the ninth that Pena set up with a sacrifice bunt that moved Dave Hansen to third.

To Tracy, it was exactly what he has been preaching.

“You have two choices when you have adversity,” Tracy said. “You can either be honest with yourself and say, ‘I’m the one who’s not getting the job done, it has nothing to do with what’s going on upstairs.’ Or, you can say, ‘I’m looking for a crutch.’

“We’re not doing that because we don’t have any control over that. The only thing we have control over is catching a ball, throwing a ball, pitching a ball and hitting a ball. Let’s just stick to that.”

The Dodgers scored three runs with two out in the sixth to take a 6-4 lead, and Shawn Green got them started. He led off with a single against Philadelphia starter Bruce Chen and stole second with two out.

Then Cora had an important at-bat, walking on a full count to extend the inning.

Tracy summoned Paul Lo Duca to pinch-hit for Dreifort, drawing boos because the crowd presumably considered Dreifort a good option offensively after his 410-foot home run in the fifth.

Philadelphia Manager Larry Bowa went to his bullpen, going with right-hander Vicente Padilla, and Tracy recalled Lo Duca and sent left-handed batter Chris Donnels to the plate.

Donnels delivered, sending Padilla’s first pitch into the gap in left-center, driving in Green and Cora on a two-run double.

Tom Goodwin, who tripled and scored in the third, followed with a run-scoring single.

“I was glad to get up there in that situation and just hit the ball somewhere,” Donnels said. “To put me out there in that lineup when I’m hitting under .200 [he’s batting .152] really shows you something.’

Dreifort left with the lead but got his third no-decision in as many starts.

The right-hander gave up six hits and four run while striking out seven and walking three. He threw 66 strikes in 98 pitches.

“The Dodgers kept battling back on us,” Bowa said. “We just couldn’t hold them. Cora hit a good pitch. You just have to give it to him. You just have to tip your hat.

“There have been two pretty good games out here and we have been on the short end of them.”