|
|
|
| |||||||||||||
Dodgers benefit from stiff neck | |||||||||||||
|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME LOG
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Chris Donnels' stiff neck proved to be a good break for Los Angeles manager Jim Tracy, who moved Mark Grudzielanek out of the two hole and batted him sixth for the first time this season. Grudzielanek scored on a wild pitch after leading off the ninth inning with a triple, and Shawn Green hit a three-run homer as the Dodgers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-5 Wednesday night. "When I got word that Chris was not going to be able to play, I used what I felt was going to be our best lineup -- as far as a protection standpoint for the guys in the middle," Tracy said. "And we felt Mark was the best guy to hit behind Eric Karros. And obviously, it worked out very well for us." Grudzielanek drove a pitch from Jose Manzanillo (0-1) into the right-center alley, then sprained his right thumb sliding into the bag. After being checked over by trainers, he stayed in the game and came home when the 1-1 pitch to Angel Pena bounced past All-Star catcher Jason Kendall. Terry Adams (1-1) struck out three in two hitless innings. Making his 300th major league appearance -- and first against the team he made his first 262 big-league starts with -- Pittsburgh's Ramon Martinez allowed five runs and four hits in five innings. "The first couple of innings I was kind of trying too hard, maybe trying to do too much," Martinez said. Eric Gagne, who in spring training beat Martinez out for the fifth spot in the Dodgers' rotation, gave up five runs and nine hits in five innings with a career-high nine strikeouts. "I had good stuff in the bullpen and I felt good, but I just got myself in trouble by getting behind the count with every hitter, almost," Gagne said. "My slider was good and my curveball was good, but I didn't do a good job of getting the first pitch over for a strike. So I couldn't really use the changeup or the curveball, and they knew the fastball was coming." The Dodgers turned a 3-0 deficit into a 5-3 lead in the third. Alex Cora tripled and scored on a wild pitch, No. 2 hitter Hiram Bocachica doubled home a run and Green hit his sixth homer after a walk to Gary Sheffield. But the Pirates tied it in the fifth when John Vander Wal drew a leadoff walk and Kevin Young homered. Pittsburgh loaded the bases with no outs in the first, but got only one run. Sheffield threw out Derek Bell and Vander Wal at home plate on consecutive one-out singles to left by Aramis Ramirez and Young. Kendall, who drew a leadoff walk, scored on Ramirez's hit. "It's tough to throw out one guy at the plate, but two guys back-to-back like that is incredible," said Green, still looking for his first assist in right field. "I've never seen anything like that at home plate, especially with two out and everyone's running at the crack at the bat." The Pirates made it 3-0 with a pair of runs in the third. Vander Wal doubled and scored on a single by Brian Giles, who took second on the throw home and scored the Pirates' third run on Ramirez's double over Sheffield's head. Game notesMartinez reached the 200-strikeout mark -- as a major league batter -- when he fanned in the first inning. He has 596 career at-bats. ... Sheffield, who spent his first six big league seasons as a shortstop and third baseman, has 59 assists since converting to the outfield in 1994. This was the first time he's ever had two in one inning. ... Kendall, who has been hit by more pitches than any active National Leaguer except Jeff Bagwell, was plunked for the fifth time this season and 109th time in his career. ... Wednesday marked the 25th anniversary of the day current Dodgers' broadcaster Rick Monday prevented two protesters from burning an American flag in the Dodger Stadium outfield while playing for the Chicago Cubs. He threw out a ceremonial first pitch.  Send this story to a friend
| RECAPS Minnesota 6 Boston 4
Los Angeles 6
| ||||||||||||
|
Copyright ©2001 ESPN Internet Ventures. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information are applicable to this site. Employment opportunities at ESPN.com. |
