DODGERS' ENCORE A FLOP L.A. BACK IN SECOND AFTER LOSS PITTSBURGH 10, DODGERS 2.

Byline: TONY JACKSON  Staff Writer

A wave of emotion won't be enough to carry the Dodgers to a division title.

On Tuesday night, it wasn't even enough to carry them past the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates.

Twenty-four hours after their most stirring and most important victory of the season, the Dodgers succumbed to the dreaded letdown on Tuesday night, trudging their way to a 10-6 loss to the Pirates in front of 43,734 at Dodger Stadium.

As a result, the Dodgers fell out of first place again in the National League West, ceding it to the same San Diego Padres that had been the victims of that historic rally on Monday night, when the Dodgers hit four consecutive homers in the ninth and another in the 10th to steal a victory.

The Dodgers now trail the Padres by a half-game. Although they still lead the wild-card race, it is only by a game over Philadelphia.

``This just shows how important (Monday) night's game was to come back and win,'' said Dodgers left fielder Marlon Anderson, who hit his third home run in the past two games in a gallant but ill-fated attempt by the Dodgers to come back again in the eighth inning Tuesday. ``It's normal to have a letdown like that, even though you hope it doesn't happen. But we're only a half-game behind the Padres in the division, and we would both make the playoffs if the season ended today.''

If the season ended today, the Dodgers would enter the playoffs with considerable trepidation. Tuesday's loss highlighted several glaring weaknesses that have plagued the Dodgers of late and figure to continue to plague them until -- and unless -- something drastically changes.

First, they could use a starting pitcher who can go deep into a ballgame.

Hong-Chih Kuo, whose transition to starter had gone swimmingly so far, ran out of gas in the sixth inning and left with the bases loaded and one out, handing the ball to Elmer Dessens. Two batters later, Pirates right fielder Jose Bautista took Dessens out of the park -- and Anderson with him -- for a grand slam that turned a 2-1 game into a 6-1 blowout.

Anderson fell onto the floor in front of the first row of seats in left field trying to make the catch. He hit his head, but got up and remained in the game.

Bautista finished with a career-high five RBIs.

Second, the Dodgers could use a reliable middle reliever or two. Dessens retired five of the six batters he faced, but the exception was Bautista.

The Dodgers scored twice in the seventh to close within 6-3. But manager Grady Little then brought in Brett Tomko, who allowed four runs and failed to get out of the inning. Tomko has allowed 10 runs (seven earned) in three innings over his past four appearances.

``Those guys have been called on out of that bullpen with regularity most of the season,'' Little said. ``I still have a lot of confidence in them. The job they have done this year is a big reason why we're where we are. But when those people keep getting called upon in the sixth inning time after time after time, sooner or later, their workload catches up with them.''

Finally, the Dodgers could use someone other than J.D. Drew in the No. 5 spot in the order. The $55 million right fielder went 0 for 4 with four strikeouts. The first of those came in a key first-inning situation in which the Dodgers, already leading 1-0, had a chance to blow the game open with runners on first and second and one out.

Instead, Drew took a called third strike.

Asked after the game if it was time to look at juggling the lineup to get more clutch production out of the five hole, Little -- who has watched the sizzling Anderson bat .455 with five homers and 10 RBIs since the Dodgers acquired him from Washington three weeks ago -- sat silent for several seconds before finally saying, simply, ``No.''

So apparently, the Dodgers (79-72) will march onward with what they have, fingers crossed, and hope for the best.

Kuo (1-5), who came in with a 1.50 ERA as a starter, gave up an RBI single to Bautista with one out in the second and a solo homer to Xavier Nady with one out in the third, putting the Dodgers in a 2-1 hole.

The Dodgers never solved Pirates starter Ian Snell (14-10), who pitched out of trouble in each of the first two innings, then settled into a groove.

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CAPTION(S):

3 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Dodgers pitcher Hong-Chih Kuo reacts as Pittsburgh's Xavier Nady rounds third after his fourth-inning home run.

(2) Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal tags out Pittsburgh's Jack Wilson at second after Wilson was picked off first base in the first inning.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer

(3) MADDUX

Box:

DODGERS VS. PITTSBURGH

- Tony Jackson