Dodger Bullpen Is to Blame as the Angels Score 9-6 Win

Mike Piazza may be ready for opening day but the Dodger bullpen isn’t.

Piazza drove in three runs as the Dodgers took a 6-4 lead into the ninth inning against the Angels in the second game of the Freeway Series Saturday night before a paid crowd of 43,550 at Dodger Stadium.

Piazza, who drove in the Dodgers’ first run with a sacrifice fly to center in the first inning, broke a 4-4 tie when he drove in two runs with a two-out, bases-loaded single in the eighth off reliever Mark Eichhorn.

But Dodger reliever Darren Hall failed to hold the lead, giving up five runs in the ninth as the Angels evened the series with a 9-6 win.

The Dodgers, who had a six-game winning streak ended, have impressed Angel Manager Marcel Lachemann.

“They’ve got a very good team,” Lachemann said. “Tommy [Lasorda] has got a real shot at winning the division and from there, who knows what can happen? But they’ve got a good club.”

Perceived as arrogant by some for their brash pennant predictions, Lachemann thinks the Dodgers have a right to be cocky.

“I don’t think it’s arrogance, I think it’s just pride in their organization,” he said. “They’ve built up some tradition and that’s fine. That’s what we’re trying to do. If you walk with a strut and you can back it up, fine. That’s all part of the game. There’s an old saying, ‘If you’re going to walk the walk, you’ve got to talk the talk.’ ”

With the Dodgers trailing, 4-3, Chad Fonville tied it at 4-4 with a pinch-hit double down the left-field line off reliever Ken Eddenfield with one one in the bottom of the eighth.

Piazza gave the Dodgers a two-run lead, but they couldn’t hold it.

Angel starter Shawn Boskie, on an opening-day roster with an American League club for the first time in his six-year major league career, allowed three runs on eight hits in five innings before departing with a 4-3 lead. He struggled as the Dodgers got a man aboard in every inning, but he worked his way through it.

Dodger starter Pedro Astacio struggled, allowing four runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings. Astacio, who allowed the leadoff hitter to get aboard in every inning, also gave up two doubles and a home run.

With the game tied at 1-1 in the third, Astacio walked in a run with the bases loaded.

With the Dodgers leading, 3-2, Astacio gave up a two-run double to J.T. Snow, who belted a three-and-one pitch off the center field wall with two outs in the fifth inning. He was then removed in favor of reliever Antonio Osuna, who was optioned to Albuquerque before the game.

Ismael Valdes, who entered the game in the top of the sixth, looked impressive, striking out two of the four batters he faced before giving way to a pinch hitter in the bottom of the inning.

New Dodger shortstop Greg Gagne made two fine plays to take away hits from catcher Don Slaught and first baseman Tim Wallach.

Gagne went to his left to rob Slaught of a hit in the sixth and he went to his right to take a hit away from Wallach in the seventh.

Dodger first baseman Eric Karros, hampered by a shoulder injury this spring, went hitless in four at-bats.