Umpires' call has Dodgers protesting

Dispute arises over whether Sweeney stepped in box in eighth ST. LOUIS -- The Dodgers played Wednesday night's 9-6 loss to the Cardinals under protest because of a dispute about a substitution in the top of the eighth inning. Casey Blake's one-out double had just cut the St. Louis lead to 9-6 with Mark Sweeney in the on-deck circle to bat for Pablo Ozuna. Sweeney moved toward home plate, and umpire Chris Guccione was about to motion Sweeney into the game when manager Joe Torre, now wanting Jeff Kent to bat instead against Cardinals right-hander Brad Thompson, asked if Sweeney was already in the game. With his back to the plate as he shouted to Torre in the Dodgers dugout, Guccione told Torre that Sweeney was not officially in the game. But simultaneously, Sweeney was stepping into the batter's box, which, according to the... [read full story]