Dodgers 2, Cubs 1

Pierre brought the leather, robbing Mark DeRosa of a hit with a diving catch in the top of the 11th, then brought his left knee, which collided with a pitch from Carlos Marmol with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 11th, forcing in the winning run. There was some initial confusion when the play happened, and the only people who seemed to realize that the Dodgers had won the game were Ramon Martinez, who scored the winning run when the pitch caromed off Pierre’s knee and into foul territory, and Russell Martin, the on-deck hitter who exchanged fist bumps with Martinez. Everyone else was confused by Pierre pleading with plate umpire Dana DeMuth for the hit batter call, an appeal by the Cubs to third-base umpire Doug Eddings who signaled that Pierre hadn’t swung at the pitch and the fact Pierre was trotting up the first-base line. This one could stick in Piniella’s craw for a long time, especially after Angel Guzman, who had been perfect in the ninth and 10th, walked the first two batters in the 11th. And the worst part is, the Cubs will have to wait until Labor Day to try to even the series at 1,007 games apiece. Dodgers go to 29-21 and stay tied with San Diego atop the division, with Arizona one game back. The D-backs play tomorrow, the Dodgers and Pods do not. … Have a safe and happy Memorial Day, everyone.