Dodgers Turn It Around

The Dodgers had another scary first chapter Wednesday night, a familiar story line featuring shaky starting pitching, wasted opportunities on offense and a potentially costly mental blunder on defense.

On this evening, however, there was a happy ending.

The Cincinnati Reds squandered a two-run lead and wasted an early bases-loaded opportunity in the Dodgers’ 11-5 victory before 23,258 at Cinergy Field.

The Dodgers broke form in rallying after an opponent scored first, retaking the National League wild-card lead by a game over the San Francisco Giants and remaining five games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL West.

They overcame the early problems of starter Hideo Nomo (11-6), the offense and an embarrassing mistake by third baseman Adrian Beltre, enabling a runner to tag up and advance to second in the second after a batter fouled out to him.

Nomo led many Dodgers in atoning for early mistakes, continuing to solidify his status as the club’s most consistent starter. He kept the Dodgers in the game and took charge after escaping a bases-loaded jam in the second, getting Ken Griffey Jr. on an inning-ending grounder with the Reds leading, 2-0.

That momentum shift was exactly what the Dodgers, and especially the bullpen, needed a night after Kazuhisa Ishii was chased in the third. Nomo has a reputation as a fighter on the mound, and he got the Dodgers off the ropes with the Reds seemingly poised for a knockout punch.

“He’s been the Rock of Gibraltar of our pitching staff,” said Manager Jim Tracy, whose club is 16-35 when an opponent scores first. “This guy has been a model of consistency for our pitching staff the entire season.”

The right-hander managed to work six innings despite throwing only 54 strikes in 96 pitches, including 30 in the first and 75 through four innings.

He gave up five hits and two runs, but allowed only two baserunners in his final four innings.

The Dodgers stranded leadoff batter Dave Roberts at third in the first after he singled and stole second, but then the offense uncharacteristically woke up.

They got consecutive home runs from Paul Lo Duca and Shawn Green, Nos. 7 and 28, respectively, in taking the lead for good, 4-2, in a four-run fourth against Cincinnati starter Brian Moehler (1-1).

After the Reds closed to within 4-3, Beltre did his part, hitting his 12th homer as the Dodgers broke open the game with five runs in the eighth.

Beltre hit No. 13 the next inning for his second career multi-homer game, and also made a highlight-reel, over-the-shoulder catch along the left-field line in the fourth.

Lo Duca and Beltre, who appears to be emerging from a season-long slump, each had three hits and three runs batted in to pace the 15-hit attack.

The Dodgers had four homers after hitting two in their previous 12 games, taking the second game of the series and improving to 4-4 on the 13-game trip.

“I’m just feeling more comfortable now,” said Beltre, 12 for 29 with two homers, two triples, a double and 10 runs batted in on the trip. “Everything is going good.”

Well, except for his mental lapse in the second.

With one out and runners on first and third, Aaron Boone fouled out to Beltre at the camera well in front of the dugout, and Todd Walker went from first to second as Beltre seemingly forgot he was there.

“I caught the ball and looked at the runner on third, he was there, then I looked at the runner at first, and he was there,” Beltre said. “The guy at third was walking like he was going to home plate, so I focused on him.

“I didn’t see [Walker] running. By the time the guys [yelled], it was too late. I didn’t want to make that throw to second, because the guy on third was going to score. With two outs, I didn’t want to risk that.”

Adam Dunn walked to load the bases, but then Nomo made his big stand against Griffey.