Nothing Doing for Dodgers

By JASON REID

July 7, 2001 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

Their outlook improved with each victory during a nine-game streak, and the Dodgers hoped they had finally restored fan confidence.

That still might take awhile.

Although the Dodgers believe they can compete with the majors’ top teams, questions lingered Friday night after they were routed by the powerful Seattle Mariners, 13-0, in the opener of a three-game interleague series before a sellout crowd of 53,042 at Dodger Stadium.

The American League West’s runaway leader showed the Dodgers (47-39) why it has baseball’s best record at 62-23, pounding 17 hits--including three home runs--against No. 1 starter Kevin Brown and relievers Al Reyes, Mike Fetters and Giovanni Carrara.

“They whipped us, that’s all there is to it,” Dodger Manager Jim Tracy said. “Offensively, for them, they hit the ball and it found a hole. As you watch them play, you see why they’re as good as they are.

“They just did a fantastic job offensively, similar to what we’ve been doing the last 10 games. We won’t dwell on it, we’ll just come back [today] and do it again.”

Mariner starter Freddy Garcia (10-1) tossed a four-hitter in his fourth-career complete game and second shutout in as many starts.

The Dodgers appeared befuddled against the right-hander, who had an eight-hitter in last Sunday’s 5-0 victory over the Angels at Edison Field.

Chris Donnels, who entered on a double-switch in the sixth, singled through the hole at first with one out in the bottom of the inning to end Garcia’s no-hit bid.

Shawn Green and Paul Lo Duca had consecutive one-out singles in the seventh to put runners on the corners, but Garcia got pinch-hitter Marquis Grissom, hitting for Reyes, and Adrian Beltre on grounders.

Garcia threw 67 strikes in 97 pitches. He had five strikeouts and a walk, and the Dodgers had only five baserunners in dropping their second consecutive game.

“His mixture of pitches was exceptional,” Tracy said. “His breaking ball was exceptional. He pitched an outstanding game.”

Mariner rookie sensation Ichiro Suzuki set the tone against Brown (7-4), hitting his first game-opening homer and fifth overall.

Suzuki--the majors’ leader in All-Star balloting--was three for five with an intentional walk, stirring things atop the order as he has done throughout Seattle’s stunning first half.

He had two runs and two runs batted in, including one in the Mariners’ six-run eighth.

“The thought of striking this guy out is something you don’t entertain,” Tracy said. “You know he’s always going to put the ball in play.”

Fetters faced six batters and failed to record an out as the Mariners, ahead 6-0, sent 11 batters to the plate and triggered an exodus from the stadium.

Of course, many seats were already empty at that point.

Shortstop Alex Cora’s error in the sixth helped the Mariners take command, 4-0, while chasing Brown.

Carlos Guillen led off with an infield single and Brown walked Dan Wilson with one out.

Third baseman Beltre charged in on Garcia’s sacrifice bunt and tried to get Guillen at third, but his throw to Cora was late and Cora’s throw eluded Mark Grudzielanek at first, giving the Mariners a 3-0 lead.

The Dodgers intentionally walked Suzuki to load the bases, but the strategy backfired when Brown walked Mark McLemore on a full count to force in Wilson and end his work.

Reyes entered and got the final two outs on a fly ball and grounder to the mound, but was not as fortunate in the seventh, giving up David Bell’s two-run homer.

In an uncharacteristic performance, Brown gave up eight hits and four runs in 5 1/3 innings.

Brown, who had five strikeouts and three walks, threw 70 strikes in 102 pitches.

Garcia, who retired the first seven batters, lost his bid for a perfect game when he walked No. 8 batter Cora in the third.

Cora, batting .213 beginning the game, advanced to second on Brown’s sacrifice bunt, and to third on Garcia’s balk. He was stranded there when Tom Goodwin flied out to center.

The Mariners provided all the support Garcia would need in the first, staking the right-hander to a 2-0 lead on Suzuki’s homer and Al Martin’s two-out single.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

NL WEST RACE

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W L GB Arizona 51 34 -- Dodgers 47 39 4.5

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Catch-22: Paul Lo Duca’s exclusion from lineup with Chan Ho Park-Chad Kreuter tandem under fire. D8