Dodgers Are Tired of the A’s

Grinding through a day game in brutal heat after enduring 17 innings a night earlier probably caused every player over 30 to contemplate announcing his retirement.

Only one did. And he wasn’t even a Dodger.

Oakland Athletics reliever Steve Karsay retired Sunday, one day after notching the victory in a marathon game that clearly had a spillover effect on the Dodgers.

With Karsay lounging in the bullpen planning the rest of his life, the Dodgers fell, 5-2, at McAfee Coliseum and were swept in a three-game series for the first time this season. The A’s, meanwhile, won their 10th in a row.

The victory Saturday was Karsay’s first since 2002. If it seems that long since the Dodgers won, it’s probably from watching every pitch of the numbingly tedious five-hour game Saturday and more rapid but equally lifeless efforts that started and ended the series.

The Dodgers (36-33) are in a first-place tie with the San Diego Padres despite going 3-6 on the three-city trip and rarely resembling the team that leads the National League in runs, hits and runs batted in.

Maybe a cash bonus would help. It motivated the A’s on Saturday, when Karsay announced in the dugout that he would pay $1,000 to whomever drove in the winning run. Bobby Crosby walked with the bases loaded in the 17th.

“Crosby will have a check,” Karsay said.

All the Dodgers get is a day off before beginning a six-game homestand. But it’s probably worth at least a grand to them.

“I think we could all use a day to collect our thoughts,” outfielder J.D. Drew said. “We’ll get refreshed and bounce back. We always appreciate our fans supporting us at Dodger Stadium.”

One Dodger unfamiliar with rest is rookie catcher Russell Martin. His fourth game off since his debut May 4 came because he caught all 17 innings Saturday and took a painful shot in the groin trying to block a ball, but it gave Sandy Alomar Jr. a chance to play on his 40th birthday.

“I could have played, but in the long run it’s better,” Martin said.

Alomar had one of the Dodgers’ nine hits against Joe Blanton (7-6), who took advantage of aggressive at-bats and needed only 96 pitches to get into the ninth inning. Closer Huston Street took it from there, retiring the side after Drew and Matt Kemp opened the inning with singles.

Dodgers veterans Kenny Lofton and Jeff Kent did not start, although Kent pinch-hit with two out in the ninth and lined out.

Although Nomar Garciaparra homered on a first pitch in the sixth, the high number of first-pitch outs alarmed Little.

“They came in abundance this series,” Little said. “We’ll address it when it needs to be addressed. The time is now.

“When Blanton takes 91 pitches into the ninth inning, it’s certainly a good indication we didn’t hit enough solo home runs on the first pitch.”

Little has more to ponder than plate discipline. He might change horses on the merry-go-round that has become the starting rotation.

Veteran right-hander Aaron Sele (3-2) had his second poor start in a row, giving up five runs in four innings. And left-hander Odalis Perez turned in his best performance out of the bullpen, tossing four scoreless innings to lower his earned-run average to 6.33.

“You know we are not scared to change,” Little said. “But there has been no decision yet.”

Although Perez has been outspoken at several points in his rocky Dodgers tenure, he is saying all the right things while waiting his turn on the merry-go-round.

“Let everybody know I want to continue for the cause of this team,” he said. “I’m happy with my performance and happy with the idea that I can still pitch. I saw comments in the paper that I have nothing left. I’m only 29 years old. Everybody has their ups and downs. I’m going to keep working my tail off.”

No chance Perez would pull a Karsay, quit and leave the $13 million the Dodgers still owe him on the table.

“If a team pays me that kind of money, they believe I can be one of the best in the game,” he said. “Everybody thinks I’m a troublemaker. But I’ve learned that if things aren’t fair, be a professional and do your job.”