DODGERS GET A'S FOR PERSISTENCE L.A. PASSES TEST IN 15TH DODGERS 5, OAKLAND 3.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

OAKLAND - The last time the Dodgers had a victory as scintillating as this, they went on to win their next eight games.

After twice being within an out of ending a losing streak at three games, the Dodgers found an unconventional way to outlast Oakland. Chad Kreuter and Paul Lo Duca each walked with the bases loaded in the 15th inning and the Dodgers finally beat the Athletics 5-3 in the series finale Saturday at Network Associates Coliseum.

It was the Dodgers' longest game of the season, in innings played and time. It lasted 4 hours, 58 minutes, and concluded when Al Reyes, who blew a save chance in the 14th, got Terrence Long to ground out with a runner on second.

Reyes (2-1) was the seventh pitcher used by the Dodgers, who had converted starter Terry Adams warming up in the bullpen in case there were any great difficulties in the 15th.

It's the Dodgers' second win since their winning streak of nine games ended July 5, and kept them from being swept for only the third time this season.

``It's huge, especially when your whole bullpen gets used,'' said Dodgers starter Luke Prokopec, who allowed one run on three hits in 7 1/3 innings. ``For that to happen and end up losing the game, that would have been pretty much a kick in the teeth, really.''

Lo Duca continued to be the Dodgers' catalyst. He had two of their seven hits, three RBI, started in left field for the first time in his career and finished the game at first base.

``That's got to be one of the best games I've ever been associated with,'' Lo Duca said. ``Wow. It seemed like they had a lot of chances and so did we. It's unbelievable. A couple of balls they hit right at our guys. It's just a huge game for us to win.''

And the Dodgers had plenty of opportunities. They were within a strike of winning in the ninth, but closer Jeff Shaw blew his fourth save in 28 chances. Terrence Long doubled on the second 3-2 pitch of the at-bat to score Mark Bellhorn and tie it 2-2.

Lo Duca hit his 15th homer of the season with one out in the 14th to give the Dodgers a 3-2 lead, but Billy McMillion singled with two outs off Reyes to score Long and tie it 3-3. Oakland nearly won it when Frank Menechino lined a ball to third with the bases loaded, but third baseman Adrian Beltre jumped to knock it down and tagged McMillion for the final out of the inning.

``We weren't meant to win that game,'' Menechino said. ``We did everything we could and didn't win.''

The Dodgers won despite another horrid offensive showing. They got one hit between Lo Duca's one-out single in the third and his homer in the 14th. The homer also ended a string in which Oakland relievers retired 14 consecutive batters.

Eventually, it was the the wildness of Mark Guthrie and Eric Hiljus that led to the Dodgers' win.

Base hits by Marquis Grissom and Beltre with one out kick-started the rally, and Alex Cora was hit with a pitch to load the bases in the 15th. Guthrie walked Kreuter on a 3-2 pitch to force in the go-ahead run. Hiljus' first four pitches were all balls, sending Lo Duca to first and forcing in the second run as the Dodgers took a 5-3 lead.

``It just seems like every time we get pinned up against a wall, we find a way to respond,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. ``This is a victory to build on as we leave here and go to Pittsburgh. On the contrary, had you gotten beat it might have set a different tone as you go into Pittsburgh.''

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Gary Sheffield connects for a second-inning single Saturday afternoon in Oakland. The Dodgers went on to win 5-3 in 15 innings.

(2) The Dodgers' Paul Lo Duca celebrates his solo homer in the 14th inning. He walked with the bases loaded in the 15th to help beat Oakland.

Bob Galbraith/Associated Press