Dodger Streak Comes to a Halt

By JASON REID

July 6, 2001 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

Manager Jim Tracy is determined to push Dodger starter Chan Ho Park to a higher level.

But at what price?

Tracy’s plan might have contributed to a 3-2 loss Thursday night to the San Francisco Giants that ended a nine-game winning streak before 35,063 at Dodger Stadium.

With a 2-1 lead beginning the eighth inning, Tracy kept Park, who had thrown 107 pitches, in the game because he believes the first-time all-star must clear such hurdles in his development.

Rich Aurilia tied the score at 2-2 with a sacrifice fly against Park, and had the go-ahead, run-scoring single in the ninth against reliever Al Reyes (1-1) to help the Giants (44-41) salvage a victory in the four-game series.

The Dodgers (47-38) had the potential tying run on base in the ninth after pinch-hitter Dave Hansen led off with a single against closer Robb Nen.

Nen struck out Tom Goodwin and got Mark Grudzielanek, whose error opened the door for the Giants in the ninth, and Gary Sheffield on grounders to record his 26th save.

“Chan Ho was fantastic,” Tracy said. “I don’t think the pitching decisions that we made there cost us the game.”

Tracy did not want to use closer Jeff Shaw, who had pitched three days in a row.

However, setup man Mike Fetters was activated before the game.

“Chan Ho pitched great and [Giant starter] Russ Ortiz was great,” Tracy said. “The pitching decisions [were not the problem]. It was his game to win or lose.”

The ninth inning began well for the Dodgers, but turned quickly.

Reyes entered in relief of Park. He retired Ramon Martinez on a fly ball to right and struck out Benito Santiago.

The problems began when Eric Davis pinch-hit for Ortiz (9-5).

On a 1-and-2 pitch, Davis singled to center.

It should have ended on Calvin Murray’s hard grounder to second, but the ball bounced off Grudzielanek’s chest and first-base umpire Gary Cederstrom ruled that Murray beat the throw. Replays showed otherwise.

Aurilia singled over leaping shortstop Alex Cora, driving in Davis for a one-run lead.

Tracy summoned left-hander Jesse Orosco with Barry Bonds coming to the plate. Orosco struck out Bonds for the final out.

Bonds went homerless for the 10th consecutive game, remaining at 39 for the season.

“Grud did everything he could on a very tough play,” Tracy said. “That was not a routine play.”

Although Park gave up the lead in the eighth, the right-hander displayed mettle in getting out of a two-on, one-out jam with two strikeouts.

Murray tripled to start the inning and scored easily on Aurilia’s deep fly ball to right, tying the score at 2-2. Park then walked Bonds and Jeff Kent.

Needing a strikeout, Park got two, retiring Armando Rios and Felipe Crespo swinging.

Park pumped his fist and yelled on his 132nd and final pitch of the game in his 15th consecutive quality start.

He gave up five hits and two runs (one earned) in his third no-decision in four starts. He had nine strikeouts and walked three.

The Dodgers took a 2-1 lead in the fifth on Chad Kreuter’s sacrifice fly.

Eric Karros led off with a single and advanced to third on Adrian Beltre’s single. Karros came in on Kreuter’s fly ball to left.

With Goodwin as the catalyst, the Dodgers staked Park to a 1-0 lead in the first.

Goodwin, arguably the majors’ fastest player, sent a ball past first baseman Crespo and into the right-field corner.

Right fielder Rios raced to the ball, but Goodwin was faster around the bases and wound up with his team-high fifth triple.

Grudzielanek then delivered a fly ball to center to drive in Goodwin.

The Giants tied the score at 1-1 in the third, thanks in part to an error by Sheffield.

With two out, Park hit Bonds with a pitch on his heavily padded right elbow, and Kent followed with a double into the left-field corner. Bonds scored when Sheffield had problems fielding the ball. Rios filed out to end the inning.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

STREAKING

A look at some key Dodger numbers during the nine-game win streak:

Batting average: .328

Runs per game: 7.3

ERA: 3.89

Doubles: 21

Home Runs: 12

KEY STEAK HITTERS

Paul Lo Duca

.471, four home runs, 14 RBIs

Gary Sheffield