Dodgers Reaped as They Sow : Baseball: Former L.A. prospect Wetteland preserves 4-3 victory for the Expos as younger players crowd both lineups.

On a night when their farm system was showcased with eight homegrown players in one game, the Dodgers saw one of those players became a hero.

The Montreal Expos can’t thank them enough.

Former Dodger John Wetteland retired Eric Karros on a grounder with the tying run on third base Friday, giving the Expos a 4-3 victory before 25,180 at Olympic Stadium.

Surrounded by a singing, waving crowd after the final out, the Dodgers were also forced to confront memories of what has been a regrettable trade.

The man who crossed home plate as Karros was thrown out at first base was Eric Davis, who was acquired last winter in the deal that cost the Dodgers Wetteland.

And one of the first out of the dugout to congratulate Wetteland was Kevin Kennedy, Wetteland’s manager for three years at triple-A Albuquerque.

Kennedy, the dugout coach for the Expos, pushed for the Expos to acquire Wetteland from the Cincinnati Reds shortly after the Davis trade.

“If you want to know what I told the Dodgers about John Wetteland, you can read my reports,” Kennedy said. “When you put, ‘Definite prospect’ beside his name for five years, that says enough.”

Wetteland, who earned his eighth save this month and 20th overall, tying him for third in the league, says he has felt this good before.

“This was the way it was all last year at Albuquerque--teams would know the game was over when I came in,” Wetteland said, smiling. “But that was triple A. And the Dodgers don’t place a lot of importance in triple A.”

That attitude, which began changing this season, took a radical turn Friday as the last-place Dodgers subtly begin their preparations for next year.

Henry Rodriguez, recalled from Albuquerque to replace Darryl Strawberry, started in right field with hopes that he can prove that he can be an everyday outfielder.

Dave Hansen started at third base against right-handed Dennis Martinez in place of Lenny Harris, with hopes that Hansen can also prove himself.

Then, of course, there were the usual products of the Dodger farm system: Mike Scioscia, Eric Karros, Jose Offerman and starting pitcher Ramon Martinez. The eighth Dodger product on the field was Expo catcher Darrin Fletcher.

The unluckiest was Martinez, who gave up three runs and seven hits in seven innings and, for the first time in 19 starts, walked none. He lost for the seventh time in nine starts.

“I looked over there and thought, ‘Hey, that’s Albuquerque,” Kennedy said. “I’m happy for the players because I know how they felt when they were at triple A. And I know I how I felt.”

The young lineup was not enough to stop the Dodgers from losing for the 18th time in 21 road games. The Expos benefited from three hits and two runs batted in from farm-system product Bret Barberie, two hits and two runs from top prospect Wil Cordero, and RBIs from former top draft picks Delino DeShields and Tim Wallach.

Barberie’s two-out, fifth inning single broke a 2-2 tie and the Expos never trailed again.

“This young fire that the Expos have had for the last couple of years has matured down on the field,” said Jim Gott, who gave up the decisive run during the eighth inning. “They are young and enthusiastic and playing well.”

With the Expos leading by 3-2, Barberie started their final uprising in the eighth. He moved to third on a grounder and scored on Wallach’s single.

That run made all the difference in the ninth, when Brett Butler singled against Wetteland, stole second and scored on Davis’ second single and second run batted in.

The defeat spoiled a record set by Davis when he stole second base during the ninth. It was his 300th steal attempt, qualifying him for the all-time lead in stolen base percentage.

He also stole third, giving him 263 stolen bases in 301 attempts, an 87% success rate. This season he is 16 for 17; the only time he was caught was after a pickoff throw.

“I’m not quitting, and I’m not going to let anybody else around here quit,” Davis said.