Dodgers Keep Coming Back to Defeat Padres in the 11th

The Dodgers capped a three-comeback night Monday by scoring three runs in the 11th inning on Todd Benzinger’s two-run single and Mike Sharperson’s run-scoring single to defeat the San Diego Padres, 6-5, before 39,264 at Dodger Stadium.

After trailing, 2-0, in the sixth inning, the Dodgers tied it.

After trailing, 3-2, in the 10th inning, the Dodgers tied it again.

Then after trailing, 5-3, in the 11th inning, the Dodgers came back with their most inspirational victory of the season after Eric Davis led off with the walk against reliever Rich Rodriguez and Eric Karros singled to right.

Davis took third on the single and Karros sneaked into an uncovered second base while Rodriguez held the ball.

Against new reliever Pat Clements, Benzinger then drove in both runners with a single to right. He was bunted to second by Mike Scioscia and moved to third on a single by Jose Offerman. Mitch Webster was then walked intentionally, and Brett Butler grounded to the pitcher, forcing Benzinger at the plate.

Sharperson then singled to right field, scoring Offerman for the victory, which took two minutes short of four hours.

It was the Dodgers’ fourth victory in five games, allowing them to pick up a full game on first-place Cincinnati for just the second time in 22 days.

In the top of the 11th, the Padres had taken a two-run lead on run-scoring singles by Jerald Clark and a run-scoring grounder by Tony Gwynn. The inning was marred for the Dodgers by a wild throw on a pickoff attempt at first base by Roger McDowell, one of three Dodger errors.

In the 10th, Karros was stymied by a bad-hop grounder from Kevin Ward, allowing the Padres to take a lead before the Dodgers tied it with a run in the bottom of the inning.

In the 11th, Karros leaped but could not reach Roger McDowell’s wild pickoff throw, allowing Tim Teufel to take second base after a single. Teufel eventually scored on Clark’s pinch single.

It was only Clark’s seventh run batted in since April 27. The Dodgers have had seven errors in their last four games.

Trailing, 3-2, in the bottom of the 10th inning, the Dodgers had come back to tie it on a sacrifice fly by Sharperson. The Dodgers began that rally when Offerman and Webster drew walks and were advanced to second and third by Butler’s sacrifice bunt. Sharperson’s fly ball then scored Offerman to tie the game and get Karros off the hook.

The Dodgers had blown a chance to end the game in their half of the ninth inning by stranding Lenny Harris on third base even though he reached there with one out.

Harris led off the inning against reliever Larry Andersen with a single to right field. On the first pitch to Davis, Harris stole second.

Davis then grounded to first baseman Fred McGriff, moving Harris to third. This set up a possible sacrifice fly by Karros, who was even given a pep talk by Manager Tom Lasorda in the on-deck circle.

But Karros, after getting ahead 1-and-0, beat a ball into the ground in front of Andersen, drawing an easy throw to first and boos from the stands.

Stan Javier was then walked intentionally, bringing up pinch-hitter Scioscia, who had not played in a week since suffering from bruised ribs.

He was hitless in 15 career at-bats against Andersen and is now 0 for 16 after an inning-ending groundout.

It was another night of too bad for Tom Candiotti, who allowed two runs, one earned, in nine innings.

No matter what Candiotti thinks about coming to the last-place Dodgers from the first-place Toronto Blue Jays, his knuckleball is thrilled to be in L.A.

In five starts at Dodger Stadium this season, Candiotti has gone nine innings four times. In 41 innings, he has allowed seven earned runs for a 1.54 ERA and a 3-1 record.

In the third inning, Tony Fernandez scored after leading off with what could only be described as a bruising triple. His line drive to left-center field bounced off Davis’ glove just before Davis and Butler collided.

Fernandez then scored on Gwynn’s fly ball to Davis.

In the fourth inning, catcher Dan Walters made it 2-0 after hitting a double down the left-field line and moving to third on a fly ball.

From there, he crossed the plate when a knuckleball from Candiotti bounced out of catcher Carlos Hernandez’s glove for a passed ball.

It was Candiotti’s last mishap. After the passed ball, he retired eight consecutive hitters and 15 of the next 18 through the eighth.

During that time, only one Padre made it as far as second base, but Kurt Stillwell was stranded there in the seventh after Candiotti won a battle with Gwynn, inducing Gwynn into a check-swing grounder to third.

The Dodgers tied the score in the sixth against Dave Eiland thanks to two big two-out plays.

Offerman started the inning with a walk, then stole second with one out, Sharperson drew a two-out walk. Both players were balked by Eiland to second and third base.

Then Harris, batting with a 1-and-2 count, hit a ball up the middle to score both runners.

Eiland, making his first start since May 3 because of back spasms, was a welcome sight for the pitching-poor Padres. In six innings he allowed just three hits, none until the fourth inning and only two of which left the infield.

Eiland’s only problems were two walks and a balk, which contributed to the two runs against him.

Against the Dodgers, in two starts, Eiland has allowed two runs in 10 innings and also hit a home run in his first major league at-bat against them.