Lo Duca doubles up on diving Dodgers

NEW YORK – Out at the plate! Out at the plate!

The Los Angeles Dodgers had two runners cut down at home on one bizarre play Wednesday in the second inning of their playoff opener against the New York Mets.

With two on and none out, rookie Russell Martin hit an opposite-field drive off the base of the right-field wall. But Jeff Kent hesitated at second base, apparently thinking the ball might be caught, and got a late jump.

That left J.D. Drew, who was on first, practically running up Kent’s back as coach Rich Donnelly waved one – or both – around third. A quick, accurate relay from right fielder Shawn Green to second baseman Jose Valentin to catcher Paul Lo Duca nailed Kent at the plate.

Drew was left in no-man’s land, trapped halfway between third and home. But Lo Duca, who got spun around on the play at the plate, didn’t realize that at first as he struggled to his feet.

With Lo Duca unaware for a moment, Drew tried to sneak his way in. But Mets pitcher John Maine pointed at Lo Duca, alerting him that another runner was coming. The catcher turned his head, suddenly noticed Drew bearing down on him and applied the tag for another out.