DODGERS NOTEBOOK: JORDAN OFFERS APOLOGIES TO ALL.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

In response to what he deemed the worst mistake of his baseball career, Brian Jordan did two things: He called his mother and apologized to his Dodgers teammates.

He was that upset.

Jordan failed to run out a pop fly Friday night against the Chicago Cubs and it resulted in an unforgivable double play in the Dodgers' 8-3 loss.

``I came in and did my apology to the team because that looked pretty bad - (manager) Jim Tracy, everybody,'' Jordan said. ``When I see (TV broadcaster) Vin Scully, I'll apologize to him because he had to see that.''

Cubs third baseman Mike Bellhorn dropped Jordan's fifth-inning popup with one out but retrieved it and threw out Jordan at first. Then Fred McGriff made an ugly play even uglier when he tagged out Shawn Green, who was just off first base.

Jordan realized sometime during the play that the infield fly rule wasn't in effect.

``I took about five steps and went `Oh (crap), I'm automatically out,' '' he said. ``Then when he dropped it, I was like, `Was that the infield fly? I must have messed up here.' That's salt in the wound. It can't get any worse than that.''

Pitcher Andy Ashby didn't think Jordan's apology was necessary.

``I said `Don't say that,' Ashby said. ``It's not like he was out there trying to do that. It's not like I was trying to hang curveballs. We know what he's all about.''

Jordan, who was 0 for 4 Saturday, already was struggling at Dodger Stadium before the gaffe. So the left fielder, acquired from Atlanta in the trade for Gary Sheffield, made an important call.

``I had to call my momma this morning,'' Jordan said. ``She told me to try to relax. I know it's going to get better. Normally, I'm a slow starter. I'm getting used to playing here in L.A. I've been playing well on the road but I've been having an awful time here. It's been that way my whole career, so I've just gotta make some adjustments.''

Jordan didn't stick around long after the game Friday. But he made his rounds Saturday, including a trip to the manager's office.

``He came to see me,'' Tracy said. ``Had he not, I would've seen him. It was short, sweet and to the point. Move on. That's it.''

That was a tough thing to do for Jordan, who's batting .258 with three home runs. He said he didn't sleep at all Friday night.

``It eats at you, especially when you don't have family here,'' he said. ``If I was in Atlanta, I could go home and kiss the kids.''

--Bunting blunders: The Dodgers couldn't execute a bunt Friday - the most glaring when Mark Grudzielanek struck out on three failed attempts. That's not a good thing, especially when Tracy considers bunting an integral part of the offense.

``We worked on that so hard in spring training,'' catcher Paul Lo Duca said. ``We're not performing when we're supposed to. We're making bunting look very hard when it's very easy.''

--Rolling Roberts: Outfielder Dave Roberts had a .567 on-base percentage in his past eight games before Saturday, improving his overall percentage from .286 to .384 during the span. Roberts, who singled to left field in his first at-bat Saturday and then stole second, has at least one hit in 11 of his past 14 games.

--Odds and ends: There will be a fireworks show after today's nearly sold-out game against the Cubs. ... Pitcher Darren Dreifort celebrated his 30th birthday Friday. ... The Dodgers are 15-2 when they score first but 2-10 when they don't.

DODGERS vs. CHICAGO

Time: 5:10 p.m., Dodger Stadium

TV/Radio: ESPN; 1150-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: RH Kevin Brown (1-2, 4.67) makes his second start since being activated from the disabled list with an elbow injury. He threw 84 pitches in five innings in a 3-1 loss to Cincinnati on Tuesday. Brown is 5-2 with a 2.41 ERA in 10 career starts against the Cubs. RH Matt Clement (1-2, 3.77 ERA) has one win in six starts this season. He is 3-3 with a 4.73 ERA against the Dodgers.

- Jill Painter

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DODGERS vs. CHICAGO (see text)