Dodgers Do Just Enough to Win

Some might suggest the Dodgers are involved in many one-run games because of their suspect offense, shaky defense and questionable baserunning.

Manager Jim Tracy offers another explanation: resiliency.

Whatever the reason, the Dodgers are keeping things close, and they did again Thursday night in a 4-3 victory over the Florida Marlins at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers capitalized on six good-enough innings from starter Darren Dreifort (2-2), and a four-run third highlighted by Shawn Green’s three-run home run against Marlin starter Matt Clement (1-3).

Setup man Terry Adams worked two scoreless innings--escaping a two-on, one-out jam in the eighth--and closer Jeff Shaw cruised through a perfect ninth for his 12th save in 13 chances and second in as many games before a crowd of 21,907.

The National League West leaders overcame poor baserunning in taking the final game of the series and three of four.

Dreifort gave up seven hits and three runs (two earned) in winning for the first time since April 11.

Shortstop Alex Cora had a season-high three hits in returning to the starting lineup--but also committed his team-high ninth error and contributed to the Dodgers’ baserunning gaffes.

But Tracy had more to be pleased about because the Dodgers earned another close victory.

“The good clubs do that,” said Tracy, whose team is 9-9 in one-run games. “We’ve had a good taste, and these are games you don’t want to let get away.

“We’re not going to win all of them, but you’d like to give yourself a chance to win most of them.”

The Dodgers scored four runs with two out in the third, staking Dreifort to a 4-1 lead.

Mark Grudzielanek’s double tied the score and Green’s seventh homer was the big blow.

“It was the difference in the game,” Tracy said of Green’s blast into the empty right-field pavilion. “That’s the one we needed.”

And that was it for Dodger scoring, in part because of the baserunning.

The Marlins kept the pressure on Dreifort and the Dodgers, cutting the lead to 4-3 with runs in the fourth and fifth.

But Dreifort got timely outs to keep the Dodgers ahead.

With runners on first and third in the fourth, Dreifort struck out Luis Castillo looking to escape a jam.

In the fifth, Derrek Lee struck out swinging with runners on first and second.

“He wasn’t as sharp as he’s been in previous starts,” Tracy said. “But what was encouraging was he was able to stop the bleeding, which helped us ride the tail of a one-run lead.

“Darren was able to put down innings tonight before they festered and got out of hand. That’s what you want to see.”

Trailing, 1-0, in the third, the Dodgers overcame their first baserunning blunder.

Cora, who had a leadoff single, was thrown out trying to go from first to third on Dreifort’s sacrifice bunt.

Leading, 4-2, in the fourth, the Dodgers had runners on second and third with one out after Chris Donnels, playing for Eric Karros, led off with a walk and Cora doubled to left off Clement’s left knee.

Dreifort lined out to shortstop Alex Gonzalez, who tossed to third baseman Mike Lowell to double up Donnels, who had wandered off the base.

The Dodgers had a 4-3 lead in the fifth with one out, Goodwin on second and Sheffield at the plate.

Tracy encourages the Dodgers to give their top run producer opportunities to make something happen with runners on base.

But Goodwin, who got his seventh stolen base in the third, lost that battle with former Dodger catcher Charles Johnson, who has thrown out 11 of 20 baserunners. Sheffield then grounded out.

In the seventh, the Dodgers hit into their third inning-ending double play when Jeff Reboulet lined out to third with Cora going on a hit-and-run.

Adams got out of a big jam in the eighth, when Kevin Millar grounded into a double play with runners on first and third and one out.

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INSIDE

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