The Los Angeles Dodgers forfeited a game to the St. Louis Cardinals in the ninth inning last night after fans at Dodger Stadium threw souvenir baseballs on the field three times.

It was the first forfeit in the major leagues since July 12, 1979, when the second game of a doubleheader between Detroit and Chicago was called off after a raucous anti-disco promotion left the field unplayable.

The Cardinals were leading by 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth when Raul Mondesi struck out leading off the inning. Mondesi was upset that the two previous pitches were called strikes, and was ejected by the plate umpire Jim Quick for arguing.

Manager Tom Lasorda came out and was ejected, too, and fans started throwing baseballs on the field.