It's Never Too Late for Dodgers to Win

It’s Never Too Late for Dodgers to Win

By JASON REID

Sept. 6, 2001 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

DENVER — The Dodgers have had many memorable moments in a season that continues to confound their doubters, overcoming obstacles and remaining in the thick of the National League playoff races.

Their scrapbook got bigger Wednesday night as they scored seven runs in the ninth inning to overcome a two-run deficit against the Colorado Rockies, rallying to an improbable 7-2 victory before what remained of a stunned crowd of 31,791.

“When you’re down to [23] games left to play in the season, and you’re able to come back in a situation like that ... I’ll guarantee you it’s a game we’re going to look back on,” Manager Jim Tracy said. “If we’re fortunate enough to [qualify for the playoffs], and if there’s a defining moment ... this definitely is one. No doubt.”

The Dodgers (76-63) pulled to within a game of the Chicago Cubs in the NL wild-card race by taking the second game of the three-game series against the Rockies (61-77) after it appeared they would waste Chan Ho Park’s 24th quality start in 30 overall.

They still trail the leading Arizona Diamondbacks by three games in the West.

Park was outstanding in a seven-inning outing, giving up only three hits and one run in the third on a double play.

But the Dodgers were confounded by Colorado starter John Thomson.

Limited to only two hits through eight innings by Thomson, the Dodgers chased the right-hander in the inning, overwhelmed the bullpen and received some help from an error by second baseman Jose Ortiz.

Mark Grudzielanek’s one-out, run-scoring double--he missed a two-run home run by about a foot--provided the first run and ended Thomson’s work.

Eric Karros delivered the next timely run-scoring hit against closer Jay Powell. Karros continued to emerge from his season-long slump, sending a 1-and-2 fastball up the middle and past a diving Ortiz after fouling off three pitches with two strikes, giving the Dodgers a 3-2 lead.

Paul Lo Duca then provided the knockout punch after Ortiz’s error on Adrian Beltre’s grounder brought in another run and put runners on the corners.

Lo Duca, who entered as a pinch-hitter in the eighth and remained in at catcher, hit a three-run home run to left on Powell’s first pitch.

His 21st homer ignited a dugout celebration and capped the scoring in the Dodgers’ first ninth-inning, come-from-behind victory of the season.

“We had about four or five great at-bats that inning,” said Karros, who Tracy had benched in favor of Lo Duca recently when Park pitched. “Powell just came after me, I fouled off a few pitches and got a hold of one.

“I wasn’t going to get beat by an off-speed pitch. I just felt like he was going to do that at some point and he didn’t. He left it up a little bit and I was able to hit it hard.”

Closer Jeff Shaw gave up a hit in a non-save situation in the ninth but completed the victory for reliever Matt Herges (9-8). Mike Myers (1-3) was charged with the loss after walking Shawn Green, the only batter he faced, in the wild ninth.

Herges worked two-thirds of an inning in the eighth and escaped a two-on, one-out jam after Terry Mulholland struggled again in relief of Park.

Ortiz hit Mulholland’s first pitch in the eighth for his eighth homer.