| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME LOG
CHICAGO (AP) -- All that for a baseball cap.
Several Dodgers got into a bench-clearing tussle with Wrigley
Field fans Tuesday night after fans stole Chad Kreuter's hat and
hit him in the ninth inning of Los Angeles' 6-5 victory over the
Chicago Cubs.
|  | | Dodgers players keep a wary eye on Wrigley Field fans behind their bullpen Tuesday. |
When the fight was over, several fans had been hauled out, the
game had been delayed almost 10 minutes, there was litter on the
field and the Dodgers were in shock at one of the more bizarre
events ever at Wrigley Field.
"If you wanted a hat that bad, be polite and ask for one. We'll
give it to you. We've got a whole bunch of them," said Todd
Hundley, whose game-winning three-run homer was all but forgotten
in the mess.
"When you get physical, if you even touch a player, then it's
on."
Three fans were arrested in the incident and charged with
disorderly conduct, police said. They were released from jail, and
a June 19 court date was set. A fourth fan, who ran on the field
earlier in the game, was charged with trespassing.
"Our security staff is still in the process of sorting things
out," Cubs general manager Ed Lynch said.
No wonder. Fights between teams are one thing. But a meleé with
fans?
"I was just shocked," Gary Sheffield said. "I've never seen
anything like that in my 12-year career."
Kreuter, a Dodgers' catcher, was in the bullpen area, which is
just over a small, chest-high wall from the fans, when pinch-hitter
Julio Zuleta hit an RBI double to cut the Dodgers' lead to 6-5 with
one out.
|
MLB reviews security
|
|
Major League Baseball director of security Kevin Hallinan is reviewing security issues with both the Cubs and Dodgers before Wednesday's game in response to Tuesday night's incident at Wrigley Field.
"Our first priority is to ensure that we don't have an occurrence today," MLB vice president Sandy Alderson told ESPN.
Security will be increased, Alderson said, although it might not be as much a matter of numbers as much as making sure the appropriate policies for action are in place.
He also said Hallinan will discuss with the Dodgers what an appropriate response is in a situation in which there is abusive behavior from fans.
Frank Robinson, baseball's vice president of on-field operations will be looking into what Alderson called "the on-field player situation" and determining what disciplinary action if any needs to be taken.
"We want to make clear that under no circumstances is it appropriate for a player to go into the stands," Alderson said.
Alderson said Major League Baseball and the Cubs will review all matters of security at Wrigley, including the sale of alcohol. But he said the Cubs have not had a problem with alcohol sales in the past.
-- ESPN.com news services
|
A fan grabbed Kreuter's cap, apparently hit him and then took
off running. Kreuter gave chase, and a few of his teammates
followed. The rest of the bullpen gathered along the first-base
wall and Los Angeles' dugout emptied.
A few more players waded into the crowd, and several Dodgers
were seen tussling with fans.
"If somebody pops one of my guys, that's not supposed to
happen," Dodgers manager Davey Johnson said. "A couple guys were
pretty much intoxicated, big guys. Then the beer started coming
down."
Kreuter didn't want to talk about the fight, telling reporters
to go talk to Hundley about his home run.
"The game was on the field," Kreuter said. "Todd Hundley was
the hero."
It took security several minutes -- and several tries -- to
finally restore order. Cubs manager Don Baylor and bench coach Rene
Lachemann also came over to plead with fans to calm down.
"That was part of the problem. It kept going on and no one
showed up. There were no uniformed personnel," Dodgers general
manager Kevin Malone said. "It looked like it was out of control
and there weren't any control measures in place."
But the Dodgers had no business going into the stands, Baylor
said.
"I just know that when players go into the stands, you're
taking big risks," Baylor said. "The next thing you know, you
have their general manager standing next to me on the field. He
shouldn't have been there, either. You can't go into the stands. No
matter what they throw."
Jeff Shaw wasn't rattled by the delay, getting the last two outs
for the victory and his ninth save. Alan Mills (1-1) pitched a
perfect seventh.
Kevin Tapani (1-5) gave up six runs and nine hits in eight
innings.
Wrigley Field fans are known for their spirited devotion to the
Cubs. They cram the ballpark no matter how bad the Cubs are. They
throw opponents' home run balls back on the field. They stand in
the ninth inning. They give Sammy Sosa standing ovations for just
about anything.
But sometimes, they get out of control. A game against the
Colorado Rockies last May was delayed when fans, upset over an
umpire's call, pelted the field with baseballs, bottles, coins and
cups of beer. Colorado center fielder Darryl Hamilton said one fan
threw a Jack Daniels bottle onto the field.
Seventy-five people were ejected in that one, but there were no
arrests. The Cubs restricted beer sales and added security after
the incident.
"This is my home town. I've been here hundreds of times," said
Hundley, whose father, Randy, played for the Cubs. "I'm really
disappointed in my hometown fans."
But Malone said he's not holding all Cubs fans responsible. And
he doesn't think the bullpen needs to be moved.
"This is a great ball park. Wrigley is a special place ... I
wouldn't change anything," Malone said. "Just because there are a
few intoxicated fans, we shouldn't spoil it for all Cubs fans."
Malone also said he's not worried about his team's safety the
rest of the three-game series.
"Unless those guys come back and drink some more."
Game notes
Hundley has now homered in four straight games and in seven
of his last eight starts. ... Ricky Gutierrez hit his sixth homer
of the season, a new career high. ... Henry Rodriguez is day-to-day
after fouling a pitch off his right knee.
| |
ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Los Angeles Clubhouse
Chicago Cubs Clubhouse
Gammons: The fiasco at Wrigley
Players defend Dodgers for mixing it up in stands
The day after: Dodgers put the hurt on Cubs' 'pen
RECAPS
Kansas City 8
Oakland 7
Cleveland 11
Detroit 9
Chi. White Sox 4
NY Yankees 0
Toronto 7
Boston 6
Texas 9
Tampa Bay 7
Baltimore 4
Anaheim 3
Seattle 9
Minnesota 5
Cincinnati 6
Pittsburgh 2
San Diego 7
Florida 3
Montreal 2
Arizona 0
St. Louis 8
Philadelphia 2
Colorado 4
NY Mets 3
Atlanta 9
San Francisco 7
Los Angeles 6
Chicago Cubs 5
Milwaukee 6
Houston 5
AUDIO/VIDEO
 MLB official Sandy Alderson puts some of the blame on the players.
wav: 110 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
Manager Davey Johnson describes the series of events leading to the fiasco.
wav: 192 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
ESPN's Dave Campbell comments on unruly fans.
wav: 197 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Eric Young discusses fan participation.
wav: 158 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Dodgers GM Kevin Malone discusses the incident.
wav: 76 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
|
