Dodgers Make Least of Chances

The Dodgers had time for soul-searching over the All-Star break. Then they sent the same poor souls onto the field, with predictable results.

They failed to capitalize on baserunning and defensive mistakes by the San Francisco Giants on Thursday night and failed to gain a game on the losing San Diego Padres by placing themselves in a position where one swing could beat them.

That swing came in the seventh inning with two out and two strikes on Omar Vizquel. His fly ball hit the right-field foul pole netting for a three-run home run, the difference in a 4-3 Giant victory in front of 46,234 at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers (40-49) rallied for two runs in the bottom of the inning, but Jayson Werth struck out with the bases loaded and two out. Antonio Perez, who had three hits, was walked to get to Werth, who had been 0 for his last 16 with nine strikeouts.

The strategy by Giant Manager Felipe Alou underscored one of the several Dodger problems -- it is easy to pitch around the few dangerous hitters to get to one who is struggling. The Dodgers left 10 runners on base.

And when their hottest starting pitcher is ejected in the third inning ... well, that never helps.

Brad Penny had faced 10 batters in three innings and the game was scoreless when he bunted with a runner on first. Giant starter Jason Schmidt threw late to second, and Vizquel bounced a throw to first.

Penny made a slight movement toward second after overrunning the bag, Ray Durham tagged him and first base umpire Alfonso Marquez called him out. On his way to the dugout, Penny threw his helmet and was ejected by plate umpire Rob Drake.

“I tried to walk him back to the dugout,” Drake said. “I was trying to calm him down. He said, ‘Alfonso is [messing] with me’ and throws his helmet. We gave him a long leash, and he basically ejected himself.”

Said Penny: “Some umps you can talk to. Him you can’t talk to. If I don’t throw the helmet, he doesn’t throw me out. But I can’t get thrown out in that situation.”

With Penny on the mound and loose change around the diamond, the Dodgers matched up decently against the hapless Giants (38-50) even though first baseman Jeff Kent ($8.5 million) was the only position player making more than $339,000.

Rookie D.J. Houlton (4-3) replaced Penny and gave up one run until Vizquel’s homer, which was made possible when Kent made an error trying to backhand a throw by Houlton. The throw hit Kent on the wrist, Jason Ellison was safe and pinch-hitter Adam Shabala singled to set up Vizquel’s two-out blast.

“The game boiled down to one swing they took,” Dodger Manager Jim Tracy said. “They got the two-out hit with runners on base, and we were unable to do so.”

The cavalry is on the horizon. Shortstop Cesar Izturis (hamstring) will be activated from the disabled list today and outfielder Milton Bradley (finger) will begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment today at triple-A Las Vegas. Third baseman Jose Valentin (knee) said he would begin his rehab assignment Saturday.

“If we are able to shave a couple of games off and pull within five games or less, that’s a definite indication to me that we are in a pennant race with two months to go,” Tracy said before the game. “If we fall further back, that’s a situation where we have to step back and ask about the viability of us being a player in this thing.”

General Manager Paul DePodesta and his brain trust spent the All-Star break thinking of ways to patch the holes and keep the Dodgers within shouting distance of San Diego until a trade can be made and the injured players return.

Right-handed reliever Steve Schmoll was promoted from triple A on Thursday and outfielder Cody Ross was demoted.