RUNNING, RELIEF COST DODGERS ARIZONA 3, DODGERS 2.Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer PHOENIX - Dodgers manager Davey Johnson After watching the debacle on the basepaths in the eighth inning of an eventual 3-2 Dodgers loss when Arizona scored with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, many questions about Johnson's policy on bunting were easily answered. The Dodgers pulled to within 2-1 on Adrian Beltre's solo homer Noun 1. solo homer - a home run with no runners on base solo blast home run, homer - a base hit on which the batter scores a run to start the eighth inning. Then, with Hiram Bocachica Hiram Colon Bocachica (born March 4, 1976, in Ponce, Puerto Rico) is a Major League Baseball player, currently playing outfield for the San Diego Padres. He is 5'11" and weighs around 195 pounds. at first and Paul LoDuca at third with one out, Tom Goodwin safety squeeze play squeeze play - a baseball play in which a runner on third base tries to score as the batter bunts the pitch . He read the sign as a suicide squeeze Noun 1. suicide squeeze - the runner on third base starts home as the pitcher delivers the ball suicide squeeze play squeeze play - a baseball play in which a runner on third base tries to score as the batter bunts the pitch and just laid the bat on the ball, bunting directly to Diamondbacks third baseman third baseman n. Baseball The infielder stationed near third base. Noun 1. third baseman - (baseball) the person who plays third base third sacker Matt Williams Matt Williams can refer to different people:
That's not enough for the fundamentally challenged Dodgers. LoDuca broke from third and headed toward the plate. Williams threw home and LoDuca got caught in a run down before being tagged out. ``That was a safety squeeze, but unfortunately (Goodwin) thought it was a straight squeeze,'' Johnson said. ``And it's OK if he goes that way (with the bunt), but LoDuca's got to trail the third baseman on it. It wasn't a good one.'' The loss dropped the Dodgers (75-71) back into fourth place in the National League West by a half-game behind Colorado, which opens a four-game series today in Los Angeles. ``We tried to do something different and shake things up, but it doesn't matter what we do, it always seems wrong,'' Dodgers second baseman Mark Grudzielanek said. ``We try to generate something and then something else happens.'' That mishap became more significant in the ninth inning when Beltre singled in Shawn Green with two outs to tie the game 2-2. But, on a night when the defense was strong, starting pitcher Kevin Brown threw well and Beltre came through with a clutch hit, it was just time to move down on the checklist of negative happenings until the Dodgers found something to mark off. The baserunning was one check mark, and the failure of the bullpen was another. Reliever Terry Adams allowed a pair of singles to start the ninth and not even a double play could get him out of trouble. He walked Craig Counsell with two outs and Jason Conti on third. Pinch-hitter Rob Ryan, who spent the season between the minors and Arizona, singled through the middle on the first pitch from Adams to give the Diamondbacks the win. ``We caught a break and got a double play, and that's huge, and then with two outs we walk a guy and the pinch-hitter gets it,'' Grudzielanek said. ``The kids are going up there with an idea of getting something over the plate and looking to drive the ball, so they're swinging early, especially the young guys.'' |
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