A PROBLEM WITH AUTHORITY DODGERS UPSET WITH UMP AFTER LOSS PHILADELPHIA 7, DODGERS 3.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

PHILADELPHIA - The Dodgers dropped out of first place in the National League West for the first time in a week, and they have nobody to blame but themselves.

Or home-plate umpire Brian Runge.

Several Dodgers expressed dismay over the width of Runge's strike zone, including a called strike on a ball that hit a batter. That, and a Philadelphia grand slam for a second consecutive day, led to the Dodgers' third loss in a row.

Eric Gagne allowed five runs in four innings as the Phillies beat the Dodgers 7-3 Saturday at Veterans Stadium. The Phillies, now in a tie for first place with Atlanta in the National League East, can sweep the three- game series today.

The Dodgers, who have been in first place for all but one day since July 27, are a half-game behind Arizona and tied with San Francisco for second place.

``Long way to go,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. ``There's too many games left. Too many games in your division.''

The Phillies hit three homers, including a grand slam from former Diamondback Travis Lee in the first inning. But it was more the work of Runge that irked the Dodgers.

It began when Gary Sheffield was called out on a third strike he believed was outside. He and Runge argued before a horde of Dodgers players and coaches ran out to protect Sheffield and create distance between the two.

``It's hard to drive the ball and hit for power when the guy is not giving you anything over the plate and you have to go reaching out there,'' Sheffield said. ``I hit a couple of balls down the right-field line where I had to jump out across the plate to hit it. Coming out of spring training we were figuring the high strike or the low strike, we can handle that as long as it's over the plate. But when guys don't have to throw the ball over the plate you make their job a lot easier.''

That wasn't the Dodgers' only beef.

With two runners on, none out and trailing 4-0 in the third inning, Gagne squared to bunt. The pitch from Robert Person, who hit Alex Cora with his previous pitch, struck Gagne's left forearm, knocking him to the ground. He dusted himself off only to learn it was called a strike.

The inning ended when Mark Grudzielanek was called out on a strike with a runner on third. He placed his bat on the ground and slammed his helmet in frustration.

``Apparently, he said that (Gagne) didn't make an attempt to get out of the way,'' said Tracy, who argued the call. ``I saw him move backward. It's pretty tough to move any other place, in my mind, when a ball is thrown right at you and hits you in the forearm. It was a tough day. It appeared to me like the zone was wide. It was obviously wide, and it was wide on both sides.''

The Dodgers pulled within 6-3 and had the tying run at the plate in the seventh with Paul Lo Duca, but he also was called out on a pitch he thought was outside. Lo Duca has struck out 20 times in 339 plate appearances. It ended the inning and was the last chance the Dodgers would have.

``I was a little upset because I'm up there, I fouled off 10 pitches, I'm battling my butt off and they call a pitch a foot outside on me,'' Lo Duca said.

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Photo:

(color) Dodgers manager Jim Tracy argues with home-plate umpire Brian Runge, left, in the third inning Saturday as first-base umpire Mike Reilly, center, tries to keep the peace.

Associated Press

Box: NL WEST