Saenz Is Dodger Pen Pal

PITTSBURGH —  An unsettling experience for the Dodgers had an upbeat ending Sunday as they outlasted the Pittsburgh Pirates, 9-7, in 14 innings at PNC Park.

The Dodgers maintained their composure after the bullpen uncharacteristically failed to preserve a 7-2 lead with two out and none on in the eighth inning, walking five consecutive batters at one point to help the Pirates score five runs and pull even.

But the Dodgers absorbed the blow and Olmedo Saenz seized his opportunity in the 14th, hitting a two-run, pinch-hit home run against left-hander John Grabow. Saenz’s first homer set the stage for Brian Falkenborg to share the hero’s role, and the Dodgers’ last available reliever didn’t disappoint.

The right-hander worked a 1-2-3 14th -- completing his second scoreless inning -- to finish the 4-hour 10-minute game before those who remained from a crowd of 16,554. Falkenborg (1-0) earned his first major league victory and the Dodgers swept the three-game series, finishing 5-1 on their first East Coast trip.

“They basically made it clear to me that I was going to be in there until something happened, one way or another,” said Falkenborg, the Dodgers’ eighth pitcher. “That wasn’t the way we wanted to do it, but a win is a win.”

Although the Dodgers left Pittsburgh later than they had expected, they got what they wanted and learned more about themselves in the process.

“That wasn’t how we had it scripted from the eighth inning on,” said Manager Jim Tracy, whose team has the National League’s best record at 20-10. “You don’t expect that at 7-2, with two out and nobody on in the eighth inning. There’s a check-swing hit, a legit single and five walks. Rarely will you see that type of stuff happen from this bullpen....

“But to continue to show the type of perseverance that we did, after going through what we went through in the eighth inning, is another big show of our character. We showed our mettle.”

Saenz certainly did.

The five-year veteran had only two hits in his first 11 at-bats as a pinch-hitter when Tracy summoned him to bat for the left-handed batting Alex Cora against Grabow (0-1). Jose Hernandez had walked to start the inning and advanced to second on Cesar Izturis’ sacrifice bunt.

Pirate bench coach Pete Mackanin, managing the team because Manager Lloyd McClendon had been ejected for arguing balls and strikes in the 10th, had right-hander Brian Boehringer available but stuck with the left-hander.

On a 2-and-0 count, Saenz homered to left-center. The Pirates (12-17) were headed to their sixth straight loss and the Dodgers, winners of four in a row, were suddenly re-energized.

“I had the situation with a man on second base, so I tried to be patient up there and get a base hit so we can get ahead,” Saenz said. “He got 2-and-0 and he gave me a good pitch to hit.

“I was so excited. I knew I hit it hard and it was going to go a long way.”

Saenz says he does not become discouraged when struggling in the pinch-hitter role, and that’s the key.

“I’m not frustrated at all,” he said. “Pinch-hitting is not an easy job. The best I can do is just prepare myself the best I can every day, so I can have a better chance when I go up to the plate.

“It’s a long season and a lot of things can happen. Ten, 11 at-bats is not telling me I can’t hit. I just try to stay positive and help the team any way I can.”

That’s why the Dodgers signed him, Tracy said.

“What he did in that at-bat against the left-handed pitcher is exactly why he’s on this ballclub,” Tracy said. “He’s a rare breed in that he can have a minimal number of at-bats, and still walk up there time after time and give you a quality at-bat.”