CAUGHT IN FOGG PIRATES STARTER SHUTS DOWN STRUGGLING L.A. PITTSBURGH 3, DODGERS 1.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

The Dodgers made another ordinary pitcher look extraordinary.

Pittsburgh starter Josh Fogg allowed one run in 7 1/3 innings - the longest outing in his 23 career starts - and Odalis Perez allowed three home runs as the Pirates beat L.A. 3-1 in front of 31,254 Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers returned to Dodger Stadium eager to forget their first losing road trip of the season. Instead, the wacky plays - this time in the form of a costly baserunning mistake - and disappointing nights continued.

And the Dodgers, 8-17 in their last 25 games, lost their lead in the race for a wild-card spot; they're a half-game behind the Giants, who beat the Cubs 11-10.

``It's frustrating on all of us,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. ``We have to keep our heads up because, obviously, of the situation we're in, as far as the division and wild-card race. No one seems to be running away with it, so you come back tomorrow and should have the same enthusiasm you had today.

``It's still sitting right there for you. As tough as it's been, it's stil sitting right there for us.''

Perez (10-8) gave up home runs to Jason Kendall, Kevin Young and Adam Hyzdu after allowing just 13 in his previous 22 starts. Young gave the Pirates a 2-1 lead with a solo home run, his 14th, to left-center field with one out in the seventh.

Perez, an All-Star, has lost four consecutive decisions. However, his misfortune only masked a bigger problem: a lack of offense.

The Dodgers managed eight hits and left 10 men on base. The middle of the order was particularly bad: Paul Lo Duca, Shawn Green and Eric Karros combined to go 1 for 11.

Fogg (11-7) won consecutive starts for the first time since May 6-11.

``We haven't been doing a good job getting guys in,'' Green said. ``We hit some balls hard but right at people. I guess when the team's cold- or not hot - it's tough to get things going sometimes.''

The Dodgers' baserunning gaffe occurred in the second inning.

Mark Grudzielanek hit a broken-bat double to left field on a ball that went off the head of a diving Brian Giles, and center fielder Adam Hyzdu, backing up Giles, chased it down.

Adrian Beltre ran from first to third but was held there by third-base coach Glenn Hoffman. Grudzielanek, looking at the ball, not Hoffman, rounded second and overran Beltre. Caught off base, Beltre was tagged out.

The mistake was greeted with a chorus of boos.

``I saw the throw off-line, so I took off,'' Grudzielanek said. ``I didn't think it would even be close. I looked once and I thought he was already at home and that was that. Even if I'm out at third, and I thought I could get there, obviously, I thought he already scored.

``The play kind of surprised me. I didn't even think to check again. I just kept going. I took it for granted and it cost us maybe a run. I just assumed he was already going to score.''

Hot-hitting Alex Cora, making his fifth consecutive start at shortstop in place of Cesar Izturis, hit a run-scoring single in the fourth.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- color) Not even an airborne Jack Wilson can prevent Dodgers shortstop Alex Cora from completing a double play.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer

(2) Starting pitcher Odalis Perez gave up three home runs in the Dodgers' 3-1 loss.

Krista Niles/Associated Press

Box:

(1) NL WILD CARD

(2) NL WEST