Dodgers Continue Their Losing Ways

Another one-run game and frustrating finish for the Dodgers.

The early pattern held to form Sunday night in a 5-4, 12-inning loss to the streaking San Francisco Giants, off to the best start in franchise history (11-1) after sweeping their longtime rivals in a three-game series at Pacific Bell Park.

Reserve outfielder Marvin Benard was the Giants’ latest star, under new Manager Felipe Alou, driving in former Dodger Marquis Grissom from second with a two-out double off the wall in right-center against Andy Ashby before what remained of a sellout crowd of 41,672 on a cold night by the bay.

Benard came into the game on a double-switch to play right field in the top of the 12th and was double-trouble for the struggling Dodgers. He nailed Todd Hundley, trying to go from first to third on Paul Lo Duca’s single, with a sensational throw for the second out in the inning, helping winner Jim Brower (2-0) escape a jam.

Then Benard capped his brief night against Ashby (0-2) in the bottom of the inning.

Grissom, whose solo homer provided the difference in a 2-1 victory in the series opener, delivered again Sunday with a double to right-center with two out in the 12th.

Ashby threw Benard an 0-and-1 fastball, and the high fly ball went off the right-field wall, eluding right fielder Shawn Green as he fell while Grissom crossed the plate and triggered another Giant celebration. The Giants swept the Dodgers in a three-game series in San Francisco for the first time since 1991, moving 6 1/2 games ahead of a club that expects to win the National League West.

“Two [bad] pitches and it cost us a game once again. Bottom line, “ said Ashby, the losing pitcher in the 12-inning home opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“Just having problems making pitches.”

For now, the Dodgers need to aim lower.

Producing runs is a big enough challenge for them, and it’s only getting tougher.

“We’ve got to start playing better,” said Green, playing in with a runner on second. “We’re playing good enough to lose right now, and that’s just not going to cut it.”

Although the Dodgers had 14 hits, they stranded 12 runners and squandered many late opportunities in dropping to 1-4 in one-run games and 1-3 in extra innings.

“Every single game is important,” said closer Eric Gagne, the sixth of seven Dodger relievers. “Everybody knows that when we’re in September, we’re going to be looking at those games. [The Giants have] been playing really, really good baseball, and we’ve got to start doing stuff better.”

The Dodgers failed to capitalize in the 11th, getting two runners thrown out at third.

Ron Coomer, who came into the game on a double switch in the 10th, led off with a walk and Dave Roberts bunted for a single.

Cesar Izturis laid down a bunt, and catcher Yorvit Torrealba grabbed the ball and threw out Coomer at third.

Then, Green struck out swinging and Torrealba threw out Roberts trying to steal third for an inning-ending double play, leaving the Dodgers’ most productive hitter, Brian Jordan, stranded in the on-deck circle.

Then the Dodgers were stunned by Marvin Benard’s sensational throw in the 12th.

Todd Hundley walked with one out and Lo Duca, who entered on a double-switch in the seventh, singled through the hole on the right side.

Benard rushed the ball and came up throwing, getting Hundley at third and stunning the Dodgers.

“When I was named manager, he was the first guy I talked to,” Giant Manager Felipe Alou said. “I’ve been concerned about getting him in. I saw him play right field in spring training, and I knew he could do it. He’s a big-league guy and he showed it tonight.”

It was 57 degrees and windy at game time, and it rained twice, though not enough to interrupt play.