DODGERS NOTEBOOK: PIAZZA PLAYS GAME OF `WHERE'S MOTA?'.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - The bad blood that began last spring between Dodgers pitcher Guillermo Mota and New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza boiled over into an ugly bench-clearing brawl in the sixth inning of Wednesday's second split-squad game between the clubs. It could lead to suspensions for both players.

Afterward, an angered Piazza entered the visiting clubhouse at Thomas J. White Stadium in street clothes, yelling ``Where's Mota?'' and asked two Dodgers employees where the right-hander was. Mota already had left the stadium in a car driven by Dodgers left fielder Brian Jordan.

Mets manager Art Howe called Mota's beaning of Piazza ``a set-up'' and Mets general manager Steve Phillips said it was ``gutless.''

Mota and Piazza were involved in a similar incident March 28, 2002. Mota hit Piazza with a pitch, and Piazza waited in the Mets dugout and confronted Mota after the reliever left that game.

``Obviously, (Mota) remembers the fact the guy reached up and was trying to choke him a year ago,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. ``Other than that, I really don't have a lot to say about it. Major League Baseball will sort it out. We'll sort it out and we'll move on.''

Baseball disciplinarian Bob Watson likely will review tape of the incident. The game was broadcast in New York. Suspensions and fines are likely and could extend into the regular season. Piazza and Mota declined comment.

``He tried to hit him on the first pitch,'' Howe said. ``There's some history there and it was certainly intentional from my view point. The guy ran like a scared rabbit when the man came out after him. If he wants to hit somebody, stand there and fight. He can backpedal faster than I can run forward. It was intentional.''

Mota hit a three-run homer in the top of the sixth inning, but said Piazza didn't say a word when he crossed home plate. Piazza led off in the bottom of the inning and Mota's first pitch was waist high and inside. The next pitch hit Piazza in the shoulder, and the former Dodgers All-Star charged the mound. Mota threw his glove at Piazza and then began backpedaling behind the pitcher's mound, then toward first base and into the Dodgers dugout. He eventually settled behind home plate before being escorted into the clubhouse by teammates.

``I got him right before he got to Mota,'' Dodgers catcher David Ross said. ``I got his arm. He was fixin' to wail on him, to take a swing at him. I deflected his arm. Mota throws pretty hard. It happened pretty fast.''

Piazza was restrained by infielder Quilvio Veras, who had Piazza's legs, Jordan and third baseman Adrian Beltre. Mets outfielder Jeromy Burnitz was vocal and trying to get to Mota but was restrained by Dodgers utility player Mike Kinkade.

``I know they're claiming that it wasn't orchestrated and they didn't know it was going to happen,'' Phillips said, ``but the catcher set up inside, way inside, on both pitches and it was pretty clear the catcher knew that Mota was going after him.

``Here's the thing, Mota hit. He hit. He went up to the plate and hit. So whatever history there was, we were there to play baseball and not deal with history. And then he gets up, then he takes his shot and backpedals himself into the dugout, then into a car and back to Vero Beach. It was a pretty gutless effort on his part.''

The Dodgers and Mets will play two exhibition games this weekend in Mexico City. Mota was scheduled to make the trip, but the Dodgers are reconsidering. The clubs also meet March 25 and play six times during the regular season.

--Odds and ends: Dreifort looked sharp in 4 1/3 shutout innings in which he worked on his change-up in the day's early game. ... Outfielder Daryle Ward and third baseman Ron Coomer won't make the trip to Mexico City because they lost their passports, Tracy said. ... Infielder Alex Cora will leave the team after today's game to tend to personal matters in Puerto Rico.

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- Brian Dohn