Dodgers Make Four Errors, Help Padres Sweep Series, 5-3

Those Dodger observers who have been whispering, “What next?� were granted an answer Thursday night.

Next: The defense.

A team that had committed fewer errors than all but two other National League teams committed four, including two in one game-costing inning, and lost, 5-3, to the San Diego Padres before 36,128 fans at Dodger Stadium.

Not only did the Padres sweep this three-game series, they ultimately made the Dodgers look like an old broom in doing it. The Dodgers, after making only 59 errors in their first 76 games--14 fewer errors than the Padres had made--completely fell apart during a three-run Padre fourth inning that eventually broke Fernando Valenzuela’s personal four-game win streak.

Jeff Hamilton, who committed one of the errors when he dropped a throw at third base, later recalled the play.

“There was my play, there were other plays. . . . It’s all compounding, and we can’t figure it out,� he said. “Maybe we’re trying too hard to figure it out. Maybe we’re racking our brains too much.�

With the score 1-1, the fourth inning began rather routinely, Tony Gwynn getting a single to left off Valenzuela. Jack Clark then walked, something he had done 66 times this year, more than anyone in the league.

But Chris James laid down a sacrifice bunt that appeared merely to sacrifice the Padres’ chances, as Valenzuela grabbed the ball and threw to third baseman Hamilton to force Gwynn.

Except Hamilton dropped the throw. No sun, no funny spin, no real excuses.

“I just dropped it,� Hamilton said. “It hit the heel of my glove and bounced out.�

With the bases loaded, up stepped Garry Templeton, who hit a simple grounder to Hamilton, who made the simple throw to catcher Mike Scioscia to force Gwynn at the plate. With one out, everything seemed routine again.

For about two minutes. Six pitches later, on a full count, Valenzuela walked Benito Santiago, who does not lead anybody in walks this year. In fact, it was only the eighth walk he has drawn in 233 at-bats.

“That was my fault, my walk, you can’t have that,� said Valenzuela, who fell to 4-6 even though his earned-run average dropped from 4.15 to 3.92. In seven innings, he gave up only one earned run on eight hits.

“Yes, it was only one earned run, but I put the men on base that caused the run,� Valenzuela said. “Tonight is not the best I can do, or the best we can do.�

But wait, it got worse. Shortly after Clark trotted home with the Padres’ first run of the inning on the walk, Shawn Abner followed with a double-play ground ball to shortstop Alfredo Griffin.

Griffin made the quick toss to second baseman Mariano Duncan, who made a nice pivot, a nice release--but the ball went into the dirt, scooting underneath first baseman Eddie Murray’s glove.

“A bad throw, I blame it on nothing,� said Duncan, who was starting in place of the injured Willie Randolph, although Randolph later pinch-hit in the seventh inning despite a sore hamstring.

James had already scored on Abner’s grounder, and Templeton took advantage of the Duncan’s error to score another run. After Padre starter and winner Dennis Rasmussen added a single to move Abner to third, Valenzuela escaped the mess when Bip Roberts flied out.

But the damage had been done. This fourth straight loss equals the Dodgers’ season high, a streak that they had achieved three times. With the National League West-leading San Francisco Giants winning, the Dodgers fell 9 1/2 games out of first place. Now, the only thing between last year’s World Series champions and the basement are the Atlanta Braves, for whom the Dodgers are certainly thankful.

Dodger Notes

Fred Claire, Dodger vice president, gave the first official indication that the Dodgers might be close to finding a center fielder when he praised Jose Gonzalez. Going into the game, Gonzalez was on an eight-game hitting streak, with 11 hits in his last 23 at-bats (.478), all of which had improved his part-time average to .352. Then against San Diego Thursday night, he singled in the fourth inning and singled again in the sixth inning to drive in a run. He also has made several excellent fielding plays in the past few days as a starting right fielder and center fielder. “One thing that has happened to hearten me is that the opportunity has been there for Jose, and he has come through,� Claire said. “He has become a good example of the overall philosophy of the organization, to develop our own talent. He hasn’t been spotlighted that much, but he is showing an ability to step in there and play every day, an ability to play center field at the major league level. The only thing he has not shown us is power (no homers, only two extra base hits in his first 25 games), but we know he has that. And he has shown us so much more. We have been very impressed.�

If Gonzalez still proves not to be the answer, a couple of other prospects have surfaced, according to league scouts. They say the Dodgers are looking at, among others, Milwaukee’s Gary Sheffield and Glenn Braggs, and the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Barry Bonds. Sheffield is the unhappy Brewer rookie shortstop who can also play outfield. He is hitting .265 with four homers and 27 RBIS and has good speed. Braggs, the Brewer left fielder, is hitting .269 with 11 homers and 40 RBIs. Bonds, meanwhile, visited Dodger Stadium during his day off Thursday after the Pirates arrived in town to play the Dodgers in a weekend series beginning today. “Talk to me about that tomorrow, this is my vacation day,� Bonds said about any interest he might have in the Dodgers. He is hitting .244 with 10 homers and 28 RBIs. Pitchers Tim Leary or Tim Belcher probably would be involved in any trade the Dodgers make.

Claire said that he was satisfied with Belcher’s attitude after the pitcher’s early Wednesday morning shouting match in the Dodger dugout with umpire Ed Montague.