Dodgers Lose Again, 4-3

Those Eric Gagne-inspired “Game Over” T-shirts signify great things for the Dodgers, and that’s the team’s mind-set with the burly Canadian on the mound.

However, the “Game Over” concept took on an unsettling meaning Wednesday night for Gagne and the Dodgers in a 4-3, 10-inning loss to the lowly San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium -- their fifth consecutive defeat.

The closer had a costly mental blunder in the decisive inning, believing the game was over after the Padres had taken a 3-2 lead in the top of the 10th. With one out in the inning, Gary Matthews reached on an infield single and advanced to second on Adrian Beltre’s 10th error of the season.

After Mark Kotsay was walked intentionally, Mark Loretta drove in Matthews with a single between third and short. Gagne, assuming the third run had ended the game, wasn’t in position when left fielder Mike Kinkade overthrew catcher David Ross, allowing Kotsay to score the Padres’ fourth run, which turned out to be decisive.

The Padres held off the Dodgers in the bottom of the inning after Ross led off with a home run and they put the potential tying run on first with none out against closer Rod Beck.

A crowd of 26,408 watched the Dodgers match their longest losing streak of the season while going 1-8 in their last nine games, and they outdid themselves this time despite getting home runs from Shawn Green, Ross and Kinkade.

The second-place Dodgers (45-37) also dropped 5 1/2 games behind the San Francisco Giants in the National League West, losing their second game in as many nights to the last-place Padres (30-55).

Former Dodger Matt Herges (2-1) worked a perfect ninth for the victory, and Beck held on for his fifth save after Alex Cora bunted into a double play that increased the Dodgers’ already high level of frustration.

Their latest bad experience was especially tough on their biggest star.

“I don’t know what ... happened. It was the dumbest mistake I’ve ever seen,” said Gagne, who worked 1 2/3 innings in his first appearance since June 23.

“I didn’t go and get the ball. I thought the game was over. I was going back to the dugout. I just didn’t focus. That cost us the ballgame.”

Gagne moved his glove to his right (throwing) hand and began to leave the field when he should have been backing up catcher Ross.

By the time Gagne realized he had goofed, Kotsay had scored.

“It’s very difficult night in and night out when you score three runs or less every time out,” Manager Jim Tracy said. “But you don’t point the finger at one person.”

With the Dodgers’ luck recently, it figured the mistake would haunt Gagne.

The Dodgers cut the lead to 4-3 in the bottom of the 10th on Ross’ fourth homer, and Fred McGriff followed with a pinch-hit single.

But the Dodgers again failed to take advantage of the situation at the plate.

Larry Barnes ran for McGriff, who was still experiencing groin stiffness after being activated from the disabled list Tuesday, and Cora attempt to bunt Barnes into scoring position. His attempt turned into an unusual double play.

Padre third baseman Sean Burroughs raced in and caught the popped up bunt while slipping.

Seated on the grass, Burroughs lobbed the ball to second baseman Loretta, who was covering first, to double up Barnes.

“That was huge,” said Padre Manager Bruce Bochy, whose team has won four in a row.

“We’re in a tough jam with nobody out, and we go from that to two outs and nobody on.

“It turned the game around for us.

“It takes a break to score against Gagne, because he’s one of the best. Loretta really came through.”

And that’s not happening enough for the Dodgers.

“Were going through some tough times, we’re in a bad streak right now,” Kinkade said. “We’ve got to find some holes. It seems like there are 20 guys out there [playing defense against them]. It just doesn’t seem like our ground balls are finding holes.”

*

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

They Have Dodgers’ Number

The San Diego Padres have the worst record in the NL West over the last five seasons, but the Dodgers have the worst record against the Padres among the other division teams in that span. A look:

*--* Team Record (Pct.) vs. Dodgers Arizona 420-311 (.575) 35-35 (.500) San Fran 419-311 (.574) 37-38 (.493) Dodgers 383-344 (.527) -- Colorado 344-390 (.469) 30-40 (.429) San Diego 325-408 (.443) 39-33 (.542)

*--*

*

Not His Time

Three of the last four times Eric Gagne has been brought into a game with the score tied, the Dodgers have lost. A look:

*--* Date Opp IP H ER BB SO Result May 12 Atl 1/3 3 4 1 0 L 11-4 June 3 K.C 1 0 0 0 2 W 4-3 June 23 S.F 1/3 1 1 1 1 L 3-2 July 2 S.D 1 2/3 2 1 1 2 L 4-3

*--*