Opportunity Knocks, but Dodgers Out

The rotation is inconsistent, the bullpen is in disarray and Manager Jim Tracy is out of options.

And maybe luck.

The pressure is rising for the struggling Dodgers, who lost Friday night to the San Diego Padres, 9-6, at Dodger Stadium.

The Padres batted around and scored five runs in the ninth inning, breaking open the first game of a three-game series before 35,169.

The Dodgers (38-34) have dropped four of five and trail the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks by a season-high 6 1/2 games in the National League West.

The Padres (33-40) are last in the division. Reliever Jay Witasick (5-2) pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings for the victory.

Overworked reliever Matt Herges (4-6), appearing for the eighth time in 12 games, began the ninth inning with the score tied, 4-4.

Herges, who leads league relievers in appearances and innings, walked Ryan Klesko and gave up a ground-rule double to Phil Nevin, preventing Klesko from scoring the go-ahead run.

The right-hander walked Mike Darr intentionally to load the bases, and pinch-hitter Dave Magadan popped up for the first out.

Light-hitting Rick Wilkins, batting .100 beginning play, singled to center, driving in two runs and giving the Padres a 6-4 lead.

“At some point and time [Gregg Olson and Jesse Orosco] are going to have to get the job done, that goes without saying,” Tracy said. “There are going to be situations over the last two months of the season where you have to stay off Matt Herges.”

Olson, who had a 30.34 earned-run average in his last three appearances, relieved Herges.

Olson gave up a run-scoring sacrifice fly to Santiago Perez and a two-run single to Cesar Crespo. Mark Kotsay flied out to end the inning, but the damage was done.

The Dodgers, who had missed a couple of opportunities to take the lead, got two runs back in the bottom of the ninth on Eric Karros’ bases-loaded single, but Trevor Hoffman got Adrian Beltre to fly out to end the game for his 15th save.

The Dodgers tied the score, 4-4, in the fifth on Paul Lo Duca’s leadoff homer. He hit Woody Williams’ first pitch over the left-field wall for his ninth homer, stirring a celebration in the dugout and stands.

“We need to win the next two games, we need to go into San Francisco [on the upcoming trip] and play well,” Lo Duca said. “The bottom line is Arizona is hot. We have to get going.”

In the sixth, the Dodgers failed to score after loading the bases with none out.

Gary Sheffield and Karros singled and Alex Cora reached on Williams’ error.

Then Williams got tough.

Sheffield was forced at the plate on Marquis Grissom’s fielder’s choice, and the right-hander struck out Alex Cora and pinch-hitter Dave Hansen.

“We just didn’t get the job done fundamentally and it cost us,” Grissom said of the sixth inning. “We have to execute fundamentally.”

In the seventh, Sheffield grounded into a double play with runners on first and third.

Williams gave up eight hits and four earned runs in 6 1/3 innings. He also had two singles in three at-bats and scored a run.

Grissom provided a timely two-out hit in the fourth, giving the Dodgers a 3-2 lead with a bases-loaded single to right.

He singled under the glove of diving second baseman Crespo, driving in Hiram Bocachica and Sheffield.

The Padres rallied and took a 4-3 lead in the fifth on Nevin’s two-out, two-run double.

After giving up a leadoff single to Williams, Dodger starter Terry Adams struck out Crespo and Kotsay.

But he walked Klesko, Nevin doubled into the right-field corner and Shawn Green misplayed the ball for his fourth error.

With Nevin at third, Adams walked Mike Darr before inducing an inning-ending fly ball from Bubba Trammell to escape the jam and end his five-inning outing.

Adams had his fourth no-decision in as many starts since joining the rotation June 5.

The right-hander gave up seven hits and four earned runs, increasing his ERA from 5.12 to 5.33.

Adams was not efficient. He threw only 63 strikes in 104 pitches, striking out five with three walks.

The Padres took a 2-0 lead in the third, and Sheffield’s assist prevented another runner from reaching scoring position.

Crespo doubled to start the inning and scored on Klesko’s single to left, but Sheffield nailed Klesko stretching for a double.

The all-star left fielder is second in the league with eight assists.

*

RELATED STORY

Homer bound: McGwire goes deep, but Bonds’ Giants walk to an easy victory over Cardinals. D4