Dodgers Fall Into Steal Trap

These are wild times for the Dodgers and San Francisco Giants, whose history with each other indicates the heart-racing, stomach-turning moments have only begun.

The longtime rivals are at it again atop the National League West, and the roller coaster was running at top speed again Monday night as the Giants took the opener of another showdown series, 3-2, in 11 innings on Benito Santiago’s one-out run-scoring single against Dodger closer Eric Gagne.

“That’s just the way it is with the Dodgers and the Giants,” Dodger right fielder Shawn Green said. “I think we all feel it’s going to be like this all year long going down to the wire.”

Santiago singled through the hole on the left side to drive in Barry Bonds from second with the winning run, triggering a celebration at the plate and thrilling a sellout crowd of 42,474. Moments earlier, Bonds had stolen second, the 500th stolen base of his career, to get into scoring position.

The Giants (45-30) held on after squandering a 2-0 lead in the ninth, when the Dodgers tied the score, 2-2, against closer Tim Worrell on an error and Cesar Izturis’ run-scoring grounder.

Then, with Dave Roberts on second, Giant right fielder Jose Cruz Jr. made a sensational sliding catch down the line on a ball hit by Paul Lo Duca to prevent the Dodgers from taking the lead, and two innings later the Giants improved to 7-3 against the Dodgers this season.

“Benito Santiago got the base hit -- but Jose Cruz Jr. won the game with the catch of Lo Duca’s ball in the top of the ninth,” Dodger Manager Jim Tracy said. “If we have our closer in there with the score 3-2, and us ahead, the outcome is going to be a little different tonight.”

Felix Rodreiguez (3-0) pitched the 11th for the victory. The Dodgers (44-31) dropped to second in the NL West. They are 0-4 against the Giants in San Francisco.

Santiago delivered after Bonds added another historic chapter to his Hall of Fame career, walking after an epic full-count showdown with Gagne, perhaps the major leagues’ most dominant closer.

Bonds then stole second to become the first player with at least 500 home runs and 500 stolen bases. The game was stopped as the base was replaced and fans gave the five-time NL MVP a standing ovation.

“He doesn’t really pay attention [to baserunners], because he doesn’t really have to,” Bonds, fourth on the all-time homer list with 633, said of Gagne.

“If I were him, I wouldn’t either. You can put a guy on third, and he’s going to strike out the side.”

Andres Galarraga struck out after the action resumed, then Santiago singled between third and short.

Left fielder Brian Jordan fielded the ball and came up throwing as Bonds rounded third, but Jordan’s high throw sailed over catcher Lo Duca as the Giants mobbed Bonds at the plate.

“That’s playoff atmosphere,” said Gagne, who dropped to 1-2. “That’s what it’s all about.”

The Dodgers were informed before the game that the game would be stopped if Bonds recorded his 500th stolen base.

Gagne said he was not rattled by the brief delay.

“I knew coming in he had 499, so when he gets on base, you kind of expect it,” Gagne said. “You always want to face the best, and I think he’s one of the best to play the game. You want to challenge yourself.”

The Giants took a 2-0 lead into the ninth on a solo home run by Galarraga in the second and Marquis Grissom’s run-scoring single in the fifth, but the Dodgers tied the score on an error and Izturis’ run-scoring grounder, before Cruz’s catch robbed Lo Duca.

The Dodgers were frustrated for six innings against Giant left-hander Kirk Rueter, who gave up eight hits and walked three but allowed no runs.

Rueter also gave the Dodgers a scare with his bat, sending a line drive off starter Kazuhisa Ishii’s right (non-pitching) wrist in the third. Ishii remained in the game after being examined by team trainer Matt Wilson, and worked 5 2/3 innings, giving up two runs and eight hits, including Galarraga’s 392nd career homer.

X-rays taken of Ishii’s wrist after the game were negative. He is to be reevaluated today.

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NL West

*--* 2003 W L Pct G B San Francisco 45 30 600 -- DODGERS 44 31 587 1 Arizona 39 36 520 6 Colorado 40 38 513 6 1/2 San Diego 25 53 321 21 1/2

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*--* MONTH TO MONTH Comparing Dodger 2002, 2003 records: MONTH 2003 2002 April 13-14 16-10 May 17-10 15-13 June 14-7 19-8 July 10-16 August 18-10 September 14-13 Note: After 75 games last season, Dodgers were 46-29 and in first place by a half-game

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