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Saturday, April 26, 2003

By Robert Dvorchak, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

A dominant Kip Wells had given the Pirates everything they needed to snap out of their doldrums -- until the wheels fell off for him and Mike Williams in the ninth inning of a 5-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers last night at PNC Park.

	Mike Williams gives up four hits, three runs, the lead and ultimately the game in the ninth inning last night at PNC Park. (Peter Diana, Post-Gazette photos)

Wells took a four-hit shutout into the final inning and launched a tape-measure home run to help the Pirates build a two-run lead. But the Dodgers, who had been struggling as much as the Pirates to score runs lately, snatched the victory away with a stunning ninth in which they batted around and scored five times.

All the buttons Manager Lloyd McClendon has pushed in what he has called his "winning combination" turned to ashes at the end of the third game this season in which a victory has slipped away late.

"These are tough losses. Those are the ones that hurt more than anything," McClendon said. "Mike Williams is human. Anytime he gives it up, it's certainly unusual."

Wells, who did not walk a batter and was the model of efficiency in throwing 88 pitches, lost his shutout when Fred McGriff doubled to left center with one out to score Cesar Izturis, who led off with a single to left.

Wells got a standing ovation from the 16,090 in attendance when he was relieved by Williams, who has saved 92 percent of his games the past two seasons as one of the premier closers in the game. But Wells barely had taken a seat when Paul Lo Duca doubled just inside the bag at first to tie the score.

	More Pirates Coverage: Pirates Report: 4/26/03 A day-by-day look at the 1903 Pirates, who won the National League pennant and played in the first World Series. April 26, 1903 The Pirates fell out of first place in the National League for the first time in more than a year after a 9-6 loss to the Chicago Cubs at the West Side Grounds. The Pirates (6-3) dropped into second place behind the New York Giants (5-2). The Cubs (5-3) overcame a 3-0 deficit and finished with 10 hits. The Pirates also had 10 hits, with everyone in the lineup collecting at least one hit. Cy Faulkenberg, who scored twice, was the losing pitcher. He struck out four and allowed six walks. -- By Randy Stoernell

"That probably sums up our homestand. Things just haven't gone our way," McClendon said.

After a flyout, Adrian Beltre doubled to right center for the winning run. Alex Cora lined a double off the scoreboard in right to give the Dodgers an insurance run, and pinch-hitter Todd Hundley singled to pad the lead.

"I [was terrible] tonight. That's the bottom line," Williams said. "There's no sugarcoating it. You saw the best and worst tonight. Kip pitched great. I [didn't]."

Last Saturday, Williams entered the game in the middle of an inning and walked a batter and gave up four hits without getting an out as the Pirates lost to the Chicago Cubs. One thing that all closers have is a short memory, and Williams said his only response is to be ready to pitch again tonight.

"I'm not panicking," he said. "I'm just not making my pitches."

Like the Pirates, the Dodgers had been struggling to score runs and have been playing below expectations. Dodgers hitting coach Bob Mariano, a 1976 graduate of Moon High School, observed before the game: "This should be an interesting series. Something's going to have to give."

It didn't figure that what gave would be Wells, not after he had cut down the Dodgers' lineup and worked out of trouble without a scratch after allowing leadoff doubles in the seventh and eighth.

He had earned the right to try to nail down the complete-game win, and he did not disagree with McClendon's decision to pull him from a one-run game with the tying run at second.

"He's got a job to do as manager. The matchups were more in his favor," Wells said.

The early wallop had come from the Pirates, a rare occurrence given that their punch has been puny of late. It was even more eye-opening that it was provided by Wells, who launched a blast off the green wall called the batter's eye in center field.

The only previous batter to hit that structure was Mike Piazza of the New York Mets earlier in the homestand. But Wells topped that feat with a third-inning home run that traveled an estimated 457 feet.

"If I hit it, great. If I don't, my back hurts," Wells said.

The Pirates had hit just three home runs in their previous 119 innings, a power outage that has been the source of much wailing. The homer was the second Wells has hit in his career. The first came April 28 at home against the San Diego Padres.

Starting pitching, which was a concern based on performances in spring training, has been the Pirates' strong suit. The starters have gone at least six innings in 17 of the first 22 games, and the pitching staff has the third-lowest ERA in the National League.

Fans acknowledge Kip Wells' performance as he leaves the game in the ninth. Within minutes, however, a win would turn into a no decision as the Dodgers rallied.

"We've certainly wasted a lot of good pitching," McClendon said.

Kenny Lofton's speed helped the Pirates scratch out a run in the first. His hard bouncer through the middle of the infield was just enough to the right of center for him to leg out a double.

Lofton was running on the pitch when Jason Kendall bounced out to shortstop, and that enabled him to take third easily. He scored on a flyout to left by Reggies Sanders. That ended a stretch in which the Pirates had scored just one run in their previous 18 innings.

The loss was the ninth in 13 home games for the Pirates, who have dropped two games below .500 for the first time this season and openly have been disappointed that they haven't been playing up to their capabilities. They have lost three games in a row and six of their past eight, all at home.

"There's no excuse for us having the type of record we've had at home. We can only blame ourselves for that. We need to step it up," Kevin Young said.

"We've reached a point where guys [need to] start doing things that are consistent with winning baseball. It's not enough just to want to win. We have to lay the groundwork to make it a reality.

"We still have time left in April to get back to where we need to be. Hopefully, we'll take advantage of the situation."