Dodgers in a Downfall

Remember the Dodgers’ blazing start against the San Francisco Giants?

Even they are having a hard time recalling those good old days after losing again to the Giants, 3-2, Wednesday night at SBC Park.

The National League West leaders provided another stirring show for a sellout crowd of 42,340, including a subdued bench-clearing incident in the fifth inning. The Giants won their fifth in a row, including taking the first three games of the four-game series from their rivals.

“We’ve just run into a real hot team,” Dodger catcher Paul Lo Duca said. “Everything is going right for them right now, and they’re not going to go away.”

Ray Durham had a three-run triple in the second, and starter Jerome Williams (7-5) and four relievers combined to shut out the Dodgers over the final eight innings.

The Dodgers staked Jeff Weaver to a 2-0 lead in the first on run-scoring singles from Cesar Izturis and Adrian Beltre.

Beltre, who matched his career high with four hits, batted cleanup because Manager Jim Tracy removed the struggling Shawn Green from the opening lineup.

Green singled while pinch-hitting with two out in the ninth against Giant closer Matt Herges. The former Dodger setup man suffered his fifth blown save while getting the victory in the series opener, but Herges nailed it down this time.

He recorded his 19th save when pinch-hitter Jayson Werth flied out to center to end the Giants’ 25th victory in 34 games.

The Giants (40-32) go for the sweep today against the Dodgers (37-32), whom they lead by 1 1/2 games in the NL West.

After beginning the series with a 1 1/2-game lead, the Dodgers are assured of returning to Los Angeles in second place. The Dodgers are also only one game ahead of the San Diego Padres.

The Dodgers thought they had delivered a message to the defending division champions, going 5-1 in the teams’ first two series, including sweeping their opening meeting at SBC Park.

But the Giants are sending a louder message these days.

“All the momentum we built up against these guys early on in the season ... you get swept and it’s all gone,” said leadoff batter Dave Roberts, who tripled and scored on Izturis’ single.

“Obviously, they’re playing good baseball right now. They’re playing as well as anybody right now. But we’ve got to find some way to salvage one win.”

Weaver (5-8) gave the Dodgers a chance Wednesday in a six-inning outing. The right-hander delivered his 10th quality start of the season, including the ninth in his last 11 outings.

“He didn’t deserve a loss tonight,” Lo Duca said.

Weaver’s command problems contributed to the Giants’ three-run second. He hit A.J. Pierzynski with a pitch on his elbow protector and walked Damon Minor. The Giants loaded the bases on Deivi Cruz’s bloop single to center.

After Williams struck out, Weaver fell behind in the count against Durham, 3-and-1. Durham connected on Weaver’s fifth pitch, sending the ball to deep right-center, clearing the bases and giving the Giants a 3-2 lead.

“Hit a guy, then walk a guy and then blooper and then fall behind,” Weaver said. “You’re expecting trouble. I could have kept it small that inning.

“It’s pretty frustrating. I don’t know how many times that guy [Pierzynski] takes it off the elbow pad. I wish they would make some adjustment with that, because there’s no incentive for the guy to move out of the way.”

From there, things proceeded calmly until Michael Tucker and Weaver collided in the fifth.

Tucker led off with a drag bunt. Robin Ventura scooped the ball in his glove and flipped it to Weaver, who turned near the bag to face Tucker while making the tag.

But Tucker wouldn’t go away quietly, shoving Weaver in his chest as they continued down the first-base line. Weaver took exception, shoving back, shouting and pointing in Tucker’s face as the dugouts emptied.

“He just tried to run me over at first base,” Weaver said of Tucker. “I’m making a tag and he’s out by 20 feet. There’s no reason why he has to go in there like that.”

Umpires quickly restored order, and no one was ejected.

*

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

North and South

A look at some of the more prominent names who have played for the Dodgers and Giants since 1958:

*--* Player With Dodgers With Giants Wilson Alvarez Current 1997 Dave Anderson 1983-90, ’92 1990-91 Dusty Baker 1976-83 1984 Brett Butler 1991-97 1988-90 Gary Carter 1991 1990 Eric Davis 1992-93 2001 Marquis Grissom 2001-02 Current Matt Herges 1999-2001 Current Orel Hershiser 1983-94, 2000 1998 Jeffrey Leonard 1977 1981-88 Bill Madlock 1985-87 1977-79 Candy Maldonado 1981-85 1986-89 Juan Marichal 1975 1960-73 Manny Mota 1969-82 1962 Felix Rodriguez 1995 Current Reggie Smith 1976-81 1982 Darryl Strawberry 1991-93 1994 Derrel Thomas 1979-83 1975-77 Eric Young 1992, 1997-99 2003

*--*