Dodgers
playoff chances fading with latest loss
SAN
DIEGO (AP) -- The pressure is really on
now for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Phil
Nevin hit a three-run homer in the first
inning and San Diego scored the game‚s first
seven runs en route to a 9-5 victory Monday
night that put a big dent in the Dodgers‚
wild-card hopes.
Los
Angeles fell 3 1/2 games behind Florida,
with seven games left and three teams in
between. Los Angeles has lost five of seven
since sweeping the Padres at Dodger Stadium
Sept. 12-14.
Dodgers
manager Jim Tracy tried to remain optimistic,
pointing out that Wilson Alvarez, Kevin
Brown and Hideo Nomo pitch for the Dodgers
the next three games.
"We're
still in it and still playing," Tracy
said.
The
Dodgers weren't in this one for long.
"They
beat us in the first two innings,"
Tracy said. "When we get down that
quickly, you won't find too many times when
we came back and overcame a deficit like
that."
Los
Angeles starter Odalis Perez was forced
out after one inning with a blood blister
on the middle finger of his left hand.
Perez
had been scratched from his scheduled start
last Wednesday because of a broken nail
on the middle finger of his pitching hand.
Perez
left trailing 4-0 after allowing hits to
the first five batters he faced, including
Nevin‚s shot into the seats in left, his
13th.
A
trainer came out and looked at Perez‚s hand,
but he stayed in and allowed a single to
rookie Xavier Nady on his next pitch.
Perez
(12-12) allowed five hits, walked one and
struck out one. Edwin Jackson came on to
start the second.
By
jumping on the Dodgers early, the Padres
were able to avoid the core of Los Angeles‚
bullpen, particularly closer Eric Gagne,
who has 53 straight saves this year and
a big league-record 61 in a row.
"You
want to score runs early, get a lead and
stay away from the guys down there,"
Nevin said.
The
Padres were coming off a 2-8 road trip.
"We're
not talking about being spoilers,"
manager Bruce Bochy said. "We're trying
to finish strong. They've got a great ballclub
over there and it was an important ballgame,
but it was important for us, too."
The
Padres opened their final homestand at Qual-comm
Stadium. They have six games left at the
Mission Valley stadium, where they've played
for 35 seasons. Their new downtown ballpark
is scheduled to open in April.
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