ALONE IN FIRST AGAIN; DODGERS SECURE NL WEST LEADERSHIP WITH WIN IN 15TH : DODGERS 7, CARDINALS 6.Byline: Kevin Acee Daily News Staff Writer Tom Prince had started just 22 times this season in place of Mike Piazza Michael Joseph Piazza (born September 4, 1968 in Norristown, Pennsylvania) is an American Major League Baseball player who currently plays for the Oakland Athletics. He began his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and played for the Florida Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres . His 23rd - and final - start came Monday, so Piazza could rest up for the final 12 games of the regular season. Prince got some extra work in, thanks to Todd Worrell Prince's single in the top of the 15th inning scored two runs and gave the Dodgers the cushion they needed to hang on for a 7-6 victory over the Cardinals and move into first place alone in the National League West. ``I know my job,'' Prince said. ``I know (Piazza) is going to be in there tomorrow. If I get a chance, I have to come through.'' The victory was assured when Darren Dreifort ``That was a big win for us,'' manager Bill Russell Noun 1. Bill Russell - United States basketball center (born in 1934) William Felton Russell, Russell said. ``This time of year, you don't give up.'' After the potentially devastating dev·as·tate tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. loss turned into a possible season-saving victory, Russell was in no mood to discuss the implications of Worrell's career-high 10th blown save. He vowed to stick with Worrell - again. ``He's going to be back out there,'' Russell said. ``He's our stopper.'' Worrell spent at least 10 minutes after the game talking with pitching coach Dave Wallace. He then continued his two-week silence, saying ``I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. if I'll talk the rest of the season.'' Prince's hit, appearing to be insurance, turned into a heroic effort after the Cardinals struck for two runs in the bottom of the 15th. Mike Harkey Michael "Mike" Anthony Harkey (born October 25, 1966 in San Diego, California), was a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. He used to play for the Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies,Oakland Athletics, California Angels and the Los Angeles Dodgers. , who had pitched a perfect 14th inning and started the 15th with an out, allowed a single to Mark McGwire Dreifort came in and got a strikeout and a groundout for his fourth save. Harkey, a September call-up and the Dodgers' eighth pitcher, got his first victory. The Dodgers used 26 players, one shy of the National League record. In the top of the 15th, Cardinals pitcher Brady Raggio walked Wayne Kirby Wayne Leonard Kirby (born January 22, 1964 in Williamsburg, Virginia, USA), is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as an outfielder from 1991-1998. to force in Eric Karros The extra innings became necessary when Worrell faced four batters and got none of them out in the ninth. After converting on two straight save opportunities, Worrell blew a save for the third time in his past five chances. The 37-year-old closer has blown five of 13 opportunities since Aug. 3. This one cost Ismael Valdes his 10th victory and, more importantly, almost cost the Dodgers a chance to go one game up on the San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California that currently play in the National League West Division. New York Giants history Early days and the John McGraw era , who suffered a blown save of their own to lose in Atlanta. Worrell's first pitch to Gary Gaetti was a called strike. Gaetti turned on the next pitch, and there was never a question the ball was going to leave the playing field. As the ball landed in the Cardinals bullpen, more than a few Dodgers players glared toward the dugout. Mike Difelice then blooped a single between shortstop Greg Gagne and left fielder Darren Lewis. Royce Clayton lined a single to right field. Scarborough Green came up and laid down a bunt between the mound and third base. With plenty of time to get Difelice at third, Worrell had the ball nick off the end of his glove, and everyone was safe. Russell finally went to Mark Guthrie, and Worrell quietly walked off the mound. Former Dodger Delino DeShields' grounder scored Difelice with the tying run, as Eric Young threw to Gagne at second to force Green for the first out and leave runners at the corners. Willie McGee followed with a grounder toward third base, which Todd Zeile fired home. Prince caught the ball and came up the line to meet Clayton for the second out. Russell then called on ground-ball specialist Darren Hall to face McGwire. Hall left McGwire standing at home plate on a called third strike. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos Photo: (1--color) Todd Worrell exits game after failing to get an out in ninth, when Cardinals scored twice to force extra innings. (2) Dodgers' Raul Mondesi slides safely into second base ahead of the throw to Delino DeShields during seventh inning at St. Louis. Associated Press |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion