DODGERS STYLE HAS LITTLE SUBSTANCE REBOULET, DREIFORT COME UP JUST SHORT SAN DIEGO 7, DODGERS 6.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

A Jeff Reboulet home run was just about as unlikely as a no-hitter.

Yet Reboulet, who hadn't homered in 200 games, hit a game-tying, three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth Sunday and Darren Dreifort's no-hit bid went sour in the sixth inning.

But it was all in vain as San Diego outfielder Bubba Trammel drove in Phil Nevin with the game-winning run in the 10th inning of the Padres' 7-6 victory in 11 innings in front of 31,040 at Dodger Stadium.

Reboulet sent the game into extra innings with an unlikely - and controversial - pinch-hit home run off San Diego closer Trevor Hoffman. The Dodgers loaded the bases with no outs in the 10th but failed to push a run across.

Then closer Jeff Shaw yielded Trammel's RBI double off the right-field wall in the 11th and Padres pitcher Rodney Myers retired the side to preserve the victory. Jay Witasick struck out Chad Kreuter, Tom Goodwin and Reboulet to get out of the 10th-inning jam.

``We had them where we wanted them in the 10th inning; let's face it, we had the bases loaded and nobody out,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. ``You feel pretty good about your chances.''

Of course, the Dodgers felt pretty good about their chances early, when Dreifort appeared untouchable. He faced the minimum 15 batters and would have had a perfect game through five innings save for an Alex Cora error at shortstop in the second.

Then there was Reboulet's home run, which tied the game at 6. It was contested by San Diego manager Bruce Bochy, who argued for fan interference. Padres left fielder Santiago Perez leaned backward over the left-field wall in attempt to catch the ball, which went off his glove. Then it appeared the fan interfered.

Dreifort, who struck out eight in seven innings, surrendered four runs on two home runs in the sixth. Wiki Gonzalez hit a solo shot to left-center field and Ryan Klesko hit a curveball for a two-out, three-run homer to give San Diego a 4-3 lead. Gonzalez extended it to 6-3 on a two-run single off Gregg Olson in the ninth.

Reboulet's unexpected heroics gave the Dodgers new life. He had two critical at-bats, but he talked more of the one that got away than the one in which he crushed the homer.

``That's tough when you look back on it,'' Reboulet said. ``I haven't thought about the home run much. I'm thinking more about the at-bat in the 10th, trying to get them in. (Witasick) got tough. He got in a bind there and he threw some tough pitches. He showed me something there and you've gotta tip your hat to him a little bit.

``Sometimes you execute and get them in and sometimes they make pitches that are pretty tough to hit.''

Bochy, who was ejected Saturday, vehemently argued Reboulet's home run to no avail because Perez tried to make the play in the stands. It was one of several controversial calls in the series.

``Every call seemed like it was going against us,'' Bochy said. ``I know they call it like they see them, but it's still frustrating.''

The Dodgers know all about frustration. They had the bases loaded twice Sunday and came up empty. In the eighth, Shawn Green - who had four hits for the fifth time in his career - singled to right to load the bases with one out. Eric Karros grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Then there was the 10th, when Reboulet struck out looking with two outs.

Leadoff hitter Marquis Grissom broke through with a 4-for-6 performance and Green went 4 for 4. With the exception of Reboulet's home run, the Dodgers didn't get the late clutch hits they needed.

``We've just gotta get the guys over and get them in,'' Grissom said. ``Fundamentals are killing us right now.''

The Dodgers hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning to take a 3-0 lead. Green led the inning with a homer to right on a full count and Karros, who missed the last two games with the flu, hit the next pitch to left for his fourth home run this season.

It's the fifth time the Dodgers have hit back-to-back home runs this season, equaling last season's total.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1) The Dodgers' Shawn Green is congratulated after hitting a home run on Sunday; however, L.A. lost to the Padres at Dodger Stadium.

(2) San Diego second baseman Alex Arias lunges after a wild throw as Dodgers outfielder Marquis Grissom slides in safely for a steal.

E.J. Flynn/Associated Press

Box: SAN DIEGO 7, DODGERS 6