It’s Same Refrain: Baldwin Is Off Key

James Baldwin was acquired to bolster the Dodger rotation, and the veteran right-hander has helped the National League playoff contenders.

Not much lately, though.

Baldwin was pounded for the third time in as many starts Saturday afternoon in a 6-5 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals before 41,542 at Busch Stadium.

The Cardinals chased Baldwin (2-4) after only four innings, maintaining their postseason hopes in winning the second game of the three-game series after dropping the opener.

“I just think my location is the key,” said Baldwin, who has a 6.62 earned-run average in his last six starts. “Right now, I’m not hitting my spots where I need to be.

“Any time you miss with your location, guys are going to make you pay for it. That’s what I think I’m doing now.”

The Dodgers almost overcame Baldwin’s latest bad performance, pulling to within a run in the ninth inning on Mark Grudzielanek’s two-out, two-run home run.

Shawn Green also had another big game.

Green, who has reached base in 13 of his last 16 plate appearances, added home run No. 46 to his club single-season record.

The two-run, 427-foot blast to straightaway center in the third staked Baldwin to a 2-0 lead.

After Green singled in the ninth, cleanup batter Gary Sheffield grounded out to end the game and put Baldwin under the microscope.

Baldwin has had only three quality starts in his first eight since joining the club July 26 in a trade with the Chicago White Sox.

He is 1-4 with a no-decision in his last six outings. During that span, Baldwin has given up 45 hits and 26 earned runs in 351/3 innings.

Manager Jim Tracy and pitching coach Jim Colborn believe in Baldwin, saying he’s still the best man for the job.

But the finish lines in the NL playoff races are getting closer, and the Dodgers need Baldwin to pick up the pace.

“I’ll definitely get back to where I was, I’m just going through a tough time right now,” said Baldwin, who can become a free agent after the season. “Right now, I just need to go out there and work even harder on my location. I’ll get back to where I need to be, I’ll promise you that.”

The Dodgers (78-64) dropped from first to second in the NL wild-card standings, half a game behind the San Francisco Giants.

They also trail the second-place Giants in the West, and are two behind the leading Diamondbacks.

The Cardinals (77-64) are one game behind San Francisco in the wild-card race.

Right-hander Alan Benes (2-0) pitched six solid innings in his first major league start since July 1997--but the bullpen made him sweat.

Utilizing a September-expanded roster, Cardinal Manager Tony La Russa summoned eight of the club’s 10 relievers in tying a major league record by using nine pitchers in a nine-inning game.

La Russa needed the extra help because the Dodgers don’t quit under Tracy, and they rallied again in the ninth.

Down to their last out, they cut the lead to 6-5 when Grudzielanek, with Hiram Bocachica on first, hit Mike Timlin’s first-pitch fastball over the left-field wall.

Green then singled against Jeff Tabaka, putting the potential tying run on base with Sheffield on deck.

La Russa, booed repeatedly while walking to the mound often, then made his final pitching change.

Gene Stechschulte got Sheffield to ground into a fielder’s choice, ending the pitching carousel and earning his fourth save.

The Cardinals scored five runs in the fourth to take command, sending 10 batters to the plate and getting six hits.

Jim Edmonds started the inning with his 25th homer and things again went badly for Baldwin.

“You’re playing a great ballclub that has something to play for over on the other side of the field, and we did not give up,” Tracy said. “After trailing by three runs, we got ourselves into a position in the ninth inning [that] you would want to be in with the two guys in the middle of our order coming up.

“When you’re trying to come back in a situation like that, that’s all you can hope for. The unfortunate thing about today is that Baldy just didn’t make some pitches in the fourth inning.

“But I really feel that James Baldwin is going to step up for this team. And step up at the time that we need him the most.”