Game Over, and Done

Chasing history and another formidable foe, the Dodgers leaned on each other again Sunday night and focused on achieving the improbable.

And although they had often accomplished the unexpected while reawakening something long dormant at Chavez Ravine, the clock finally struck midnight on their magical run in a 6-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 4 of the National League division series at Dodger Stadium.

Albert Pujols powered the Cardinals as they closed out the Dodgers in front of 56,268 -- the largest crowd for a Dodger game in the history of the 43-year-old stadium. Pujols delivered in another clutch two-out situation for NL Central champions, hitting a momentum-shifting, three-run home run in the fourth inning against Wilson Alvarez that broke a 2-2 tie.

Pujols’ run-scoring single in the seventh provided the final margin, and extended the comfort zone for starter Jeff Suppan and the Cardinal bullpen. Suppan laid a solid foundation in seven strong innings, something the Dodgers had hoped for from Odalis Perez, who lasted only 2 1/3 innings in what might have been his final start in a Dodger uniform.

Three Cardinal relievers worked the final three innings, and Alex Cora struck out to end a breakthrough season for the NL West champions. St. Louis, which led the major leagues with 105 victories in the regular season, won the best-of-five series, 3-1, and will play host Wednesday to the Atlanta-Houston winner in Game 1 of the NL championship series.

The Dodgers ended an eight-year playoff drought, won their first division championship in nine seasons and celebrated their first playoff victory since the Reagan administration. Along the way they re-energized their postseason-starved fans, making Dodger Blue chic again in a town that had become covered in Laker purple and gold.

“Winning the division was big and winning the first postseason game in 16 years was huge,” said owner Frank McCourt, who completed his purchase of the Dodgers in late January.

“But bigger than both of those things was that we got the heart and soul back in this organization. We’re pointed in the right direction now, and we’re committed to giving the greatest fans in the world even more to be excited about in the future.”

The Dodgers generated excitement with a franchise-record 53 comeback victories, including 26 in their final at-bat, believing no challenge was insurmountable. Then they ran into the formidable Cardinals, and reality hit hard.

“We played the best team in the National League, maybe the best team in the major leagues, and they proved they were better,” said third baseman Adrian Beltre, who had an MVP-type season and might have played his last game with the Dodgers.

“Everybody knows they had a better lineup one through seven. We believed we could do it, we always believed that, but those guys are good.”

So were the Dodgers, who were saluted by noise-stick banging fans who remained for the closing moment of the 2004 season. Players returned the gesture, throwing caps, batting gloves and wristbands into the stands.

“The fans ... were just amazing,” closer Eric Gagne said. “The fans were always amazing, but especially this year.

“They really helped us make this year special. We wanted to do something different for all the fans had done for us.”

The Dodgers added another unique twist to a season-ending game, shaking hands with the Cardinals on the field before the visitors popped the corks off champagne bottles. Manager Jim Tracy led the way, congratulating St. Louis Manager Tony La Russa as coaches and players followed and fans applauded.

“It was kind of a foreign deal, but it turned out to be a real classy thing to do,” first baseman Shawn Green said. “Hopefully it’ll catch on.”

The Cardinals agreed.

“A class act on the part of the Dodgers,” pitching coach Dave Duncan said. “Tracy led the way and his players saw him come out to congratulate Tony. Whatever feeling they had, they came out. It was a touch of class.”

The Dodgers figured they still had a chance to switch places with the Cardinals after Jose Lima tossed a five-hit shutout Saturday and they staved off elimination in a 4-0 victory. They had hoped to force a decisive Game 5 tonight in St. Louis, trying to become the first NL team to win a division series under the current format after dropping the first two games.

The task quickly became more difficult because of Perez’s poor outing.

The Dodgers put their hopes and the ball in Perez’s hands in Game 1, and Perez handed it back in the third inning of an 8-3 loss. To put Sunday’s ineffective outing in perspective, Perez might have performed worse than in the series opener, considering the circumstances.

With his teammates seeking positive reinforcement, Perez provided even more reason for concern. With no margin for error, he struggled with his command in a five-walk performance. And then questioned Tracy’s decision to remove him.

“I was very surprised,” said Perez, who had a 14.40 earned-run average in two starts in the series. “I don’t think it’s the right decision, but he’s the boss.”

Alvarez bailed out the Dodgers in the third after Perez gave up a go-ahead single to Edgar Renteria, striking out Jim Edmonds and Reggie Sanders to strand runners at first and second. After the Dodgers tied the score, 2-2, in their half of the inning on Beltre’s sacrifice fly, momentum shifted as Alvarez lost a key two-out battle to Pujols.

Mike Matheny grounded out and Suppan singled. Suppan was forced on Tony Womack’s fielder’s choice and Larry Walker singled up the middle with Pujols waiting for his shot.

He got it on a 3-and-1 fastball and delivered, connecting for a three-run homer into the left-field corner.

With that, the clock ticked loudly on the Dodgers’ season.

“The reality is that back in March we didn’t expect to be here,” General Manager Paul DePodesta said. “We were up against the best team in the league and we gained a lot of experience. It was a great year.”