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CHICAGO (AP) -- The Chicago Cubs have more things to worry about
than unruly fans. Like their combustible bullpen.
Dave Hansen hit a pinch-hit home run, and Eric Karros singled in
the go-ahead run Wednesday afternoon as the Los Angeles Dodgers
rallied in the ninth inning for an 8-6 victory over the Cubs.
|  | | L.A.'s Eric Karros singles in Shawn Green with the go-ahead run in the ninth inning. |
Adrian Beltre also had an RBI in the three-run ninth.
"It's tough to watch because I believe this club has played a
lot better than its record," said Cubs manager Don Baylor, whose
team was booed as the game ended. "We just can't close the deal.
"... We have to reevaluate and see where we are," Baylor said.
"We just can't keep going through this."
At least there were no repeats of Tuesday night, when the
Dodgers brawled with fans after someone hit bullpen catcher Chad
Kreuter and stole his hat. Several Dodgers teammates and coaches
followed Kreuter into the stands, and it took security personnel
nine minutes -- and several tries -- to restore order.
Three fans were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.
Sandy Alderson, executive vice president of baseball operations in
the commissioner's office, made it clear that some sort of
punishment is in order for the Dodgers who were involved.
"There really is never any excuse for going into the stands,"
Alderson said. "It is not only not acceptable, it exposes players
and other uniformed personnel to risks and liabilities. At any
level, it is not a tolerable response."
The Cubs increased security around the bullpens, and there
didn't appear to be any problems Wednesday.
"We turned the page on (Tuesday) night," Dodgers manager Davey
Johnson said.
Chicago's bullpen has blown nine of its 16 save opportunities
(56 percent) this season. It has given up 17 home runs, and has a
7.45 ERA.
Closer Rick Aguilera, who has 295 career saves, blew his fourth
save chance Wednesday. He took the mound in the ninth with a 6-5
lead, and promptly gave up a homer to Hansen, the first batter he
faced.
"It's tough to come in and face your teammates and coaching
staff," said Aguilera, who also blew a save Sunday. "It's a
combination of things. Bottom line is somehow, I've got to turn it
around when I'm given the ball."
It was Hansen's second homer of the season. Both were as
pinch-hitters, giving him eight for his career.
"Arguably the toughest job in baseball is to come off the bench
and be effective. He's been doing that his entire career," Karros
said of Hansen. "He's one of the most valuable guys we have on the
club. He knows his role and he knows it well."
Aguilera retired the next two batters on flies before being
relieved by Felix Heredia. Heredia (1-1) hit Shawn Green, the first
batter he faced, and then walked Gary Sheffield.
Karros singled up the gap to score Green, and then Beltre
singled to left, driving in Sheffield for the 8-6 lead. The Cubs
threw out Karros on the play, but it was too late.
Alan Mills (2-1) pitched a perfect 2/3 of an inning. Jeff Shaw
pitched the ninth for his 10th save.
The Dodgers took a 5-0 lead after scoring five runs in the
fourth inning, but it came with a cost. Starter Darren Dreifort,
who had an RBI double, hurt his right knee when he slid into third.
He told Johnson he was OK, but he didn't look it in the bottom
of the fourth inning. Dave Martinez scored on Julio Zuleta's
groundout, snapping Dreifort's scoreless streak at 12 1/3 innings.
Dreifort then loaded the bases and forced in a run with a walk.
Eric Young hit a two-run single to cut Los Angeles' lead to 5-4.
The Cubs got two more runs in the fifth on Willie Greene's solo
homer and Sammy Sosa's sacrifice.
"Dreifort slammed his right knee sliding," Johnson said. "He
said it got better, but it obviously affected his rhythm, his
pushoff and everything else. I asked him two or three times and he
said he felt fine. He obviously wasn't."
Game notes
Karros' double in the fourth extended his hitting streak to
11 games. His career high is 17 games in 1995. ... Martinez arrived
for Wednesday's game with his beard shaved. Martinez said Baylor,
who isn't a fan of beards, told him he could keep his Tuesday night
in hopes it would change the team's luck. The Cubs lost, so
Martinez found a razor. ... Bears coach Dick Jauron was the guest
conductor for the seventh-inning stretch.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Los Angeles Clubhouse
Chicago Cubs Clubhouse
Gammons: The fiasco at Wrigley
Players defend Dodgers for mixing it up in stands
Mad hatter: Dodgers take fight to Wrigley fans
RECAPS
Texas 11
Tampa Bay 6
Kansas City 4
Oakland 3
Cleveland 7
Detroit 2
NY Yankees 9
Chi. White Sox 4
Boston 8
Toronto 0
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Baltimore 7
Seattle 4
Minnesota 0
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Chicago Cubs 6
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Cincinnati 6
Florida 4
San Diego 2
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Arizona 2
Philadelphia 5
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NY Mets 4
Colorado 2
Atlanta 5
San Francisco 4
Houston 0
Milwaukee 0
AUDIO/VIDEO
 It was another tough loss for Cubs' skipper Don Baylor.
wav: 115 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
The Dodgers and Dave Hansen have moved on.
wav: 133 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Cubs' Mark Grace offers an alternative to fighting in the stands.
wav: 84 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
MLB official Sandy Alderson puts some of the blame on the players.
wav: 110 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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