A Dodgers Rally Capper

SAN FRANCISCO â€”  Kirk Gibson, Steve Finley ... Mike Stanton?

The names that live forever in Dodgers lore tend to be, well, Dodgers. Gibson hit the home run that launched the Dodgers to their last World Series title, and Finley hit the grand slam that secured the Dodgers’ last National League West championship.

But, hey, Dodgers fans, how about a toast to Stanton?

The Dodgers clinched a tie for a playoff berth Friday, in dramatic fashion. They never led until they had two out in the ninth inning, and then Stanton threw the wild pitch that scored Russell Martin with the winning run, a wacky capper to a 4-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants.

The Dodgers erupted in celebration in their dugout as Martin scampered home, jumping and hugging and throwing their fists toward the sky.

“I was just floating,� Martin said, “getting five everywhere.�

With two games to play, the Dodgers moved into a first-place tie with the San Diego Padres atop the NL West.

“Our goal pretty much the whole year was to win the division,� Martin said. “That’s still our goal.�

For the Dodgers to miss the playoffs, they would have to lose today and Sunday, the Philadelphia Phillies would have to win today and Sunday, and the Phillies would have to beat the Dodgers in a tiebreaker Monday.

“The key for us is to get a good night’s sleep,� J.D. Drew said, “and come out and do the things we’ve done all year. If we pop a little champagne after the game, that’s exciting.�

In a tension-filled ninth inning, the Dodgers avoided defeat in the top of the inning and disaster in the bottom.

First the bottom: The Dodgers handed that 4-3 lead to closer Takashi Saito, who struck out Eliezer Alfonzo and then gave up singles to Steve Finley and Randy Winn. With the tying run on third base and one out, Saito got Omar Vizquel to foul out, with third baseman Ramon Martinez leaning into the stands to catch the ball.

Saito then struck out pinch-hitter Mark Sweeney to secure the save, his 23rd, and the mild-mannered closer pumped his fist toward the heavens.

“I was as excited as you could see I was,� Saito said through an interpreter, a sheepish expression on his face. He said he hadn’t reacted that way since his last complete-game shutout in Japan, six years ago.

The Dodgers started the top of the ninth trailing, 3-2, and had not gotten a runner to second base aside from Drew’s two-run home run in the seventh. But against Stanton, the San Francisco closer, Jeff Kent singled with none out and Martin walked with one out.

Olmedo Saenz, the Dodgers’ trump card off the bench, singled home the tying run. Saenz called the hit the biggest of his career and paid tribute to his mother, who passed away last spring.

“Before I hit, I talked to my mom,� Saenz said. “I said, ‘Mom, give me all the strength you can.’ �

Julio Lugo grounded out, the second out. Stanton then threw the wild pitch that scored Martin, a split-finger that bounced off the plate and past catcher Alfonzo.

“That one hurts,� Stanton said.

The Dodgers might have to clinch without first baseman Nomar Garciaparra, forced out of a third consecutive game by injury. He is gritting through one strained muscle in his leg and another in his side, but he left Friday’s game after aggravating the latter injury on a swing.

“That’s about as much grimace as I’ve ever seen on his face,� Manager Grady Little said.

Before the game, Little tempered any notion that one day off would represent some sort of magic potion for Garciaparra.

“There’s not a lot of improvement there,� Little said, “but he’s ready to play.�

Hong-Chih Kuo started and went five innings for the Dodgers. He struck out Barry Bonds twice but didn’t fare as well against the other Giants, giving up eight hits and three runs.

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