Dodgers Lose in a Pinch

Dodger reliever Scott Radinsky had been summoned from the bullpen with the bases loaded and no outs in the ninth inning of Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates when three airplanes towing banners for a new TV series appeared above Dodger Stadium.

“Have fun while it lasts,” read the first banner, which was printed in black and gold, the Pirate colors. “The storm is coming,” read the second. “Dark Skies” read the final banner.

The Dodgers’ fun didn’t last long.

Pinch-hitter Orlando Merced drilled Radinsky’s first pitch to the base of the center-field wall for a three-run double as the Pirates defeated the Dodgers, 4-1, before 33,922 at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers (78-64) have only a percentage-points lead over the San Diego Padres (79-65) for first place in the NL West.

Radinsky, one of the Dodgers’ most intense players, said he wasn’t distracted by the flyover of the noisy biplanes.

“I didn’t notice anything,” Radinsky said. “I threw a strike.”

Merced said he was expecting a fastball.

“I knew he has a pretty good slider and a good fastball, so I was looking for a first-pitch fastball,” said Merced, who has one hit and four runs batted in in four appearances as a pinch-hitter this season. “When you’re in a pinch-hit situation, you want to be aggressive with the fastball. I wanted something that I could drive.”

The Dodgers could have gotten out of the ninth inning without giving up a run if not for a gamble by catcher Mike Piazza, who’d tied the score, 1-1, with a leadoff homer in the seventh inning against starter Esteban Loaiza.

After Nelson Liriano led off the ninth with a single against reliever Darren Dreifort, Piazza threw to second instead of trying to get the almost certain out at first when Carlos Garcia laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt in front of the plate.

Pinch-runner John Wehner easily beat Piazza’s throw and Garcia reached on a fielder’s choice.

“I decided to roll the dice,” Piazza said. “I’ve got to give credit to the base runner, because I looked up and he was already more than halfway to second base and I had to rush the throw a little bit and I kind of airmailed it.

“What can I say, it wasn’t a good throw. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to stop the inning right there.”

After Trey Beamon advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt, the Dodgers loaded the bases by intentionally walking rookie catcher Jason Kendall, who came into the game batting .305 and has struck out only 26 times in 369 at-bats.

Manager Bill Russell removed Dreifort and inserted Radinsky, who had given up a run in four of his last eight outings.

“You have someone come in a tight situation and try to get ahead of the hitter,” Russell said. “Merced is a good hitter. [Pirate Manager Jim] Leyland thought enough of him to leave him in there to hit. Obviously, he got a pitch that he could hit and he hit it, it’s as simple as that.”

Dodger starter Pedro Astacio (9-7) pitched well enough to win on a day when the Dodgers seemed flat after Brett Butler’s emotional return Friday night and pregame ceremonies honoring Manager Tom Lasorda Saturday night.

“I didn’t feel like [there was an emotional letdown],” Russell said. “This team has been through a lot.”

Astacio gave up only one run and five hits in seven innings. And although the run was earned, the Pirates scored only after second baseman Delino DeShields kicked away what should have been a double-play ball.

After Astacio walked leadoff hitter Tony Womack in the sixth, DeShields misplayed Al Martin’s grounder, which allowed Womack to advance to third. Mark Johnson singled in the run.

“I’ve said it many times, after the Colorado series, he’s been one of our best pitchers,” Russell said of Astacio (9-7). “He gave us seven innings of work and that’s all you can ask out of a starting pitcher.

“He’s been very consistent the second half.”