BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Last Season’s Visit Not a High Note

The first time the Dodgers visited Mile High Stadium last season, they left with two of their starters facing the disabled list, Ramon Martinez facing suspension and Tim Wallach with a sore shoulder from tackling an angry Charlie Hayes.

Before the three-game series June 15-17, the Dodgers had won 18 of their last 24 games and were tied for second place in the National League West. After the series, they went 2-12 until the All-Star Break and never rose above third place in the West.

It was in a game June 16 that Colorado Rockie Andres Galarraga kicked Jody Reed in the elbow at second base in what he declared was retaliation against Martinez, whom he said had thrown at him at first base. Two brawls broke out during the game, after which Reed went on the disabled list.

Then after the final game, Darryl Strawberry, who made a humiliating fielding blunder, put himself on the disabled list to because of his surgically repaired back. It was the last regular-season game he has played as a Dodger.

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Raul Mondesi and Brett Butler hit their fourth triples Monday night, which leads the team and ties them for second in the league. . . . Chan Ho Park had another start Monday night for double-A San Antonio, and his earned-run average after 21 1/3 innings is 2.11. Park, who is working on his fastball, gave up one earned run in five innings, struck out six but walked four and had one wild pitch. In six starts, Park has given up 16 hits, five earned runs and 14 walks with 31 strikeouts.

The Dodgers are in second place in the league behind the Houston Astros in stolen bases with 35. Delino DeShields leads the team with 12. Though DeShields’ batting average was only .228 before Monday’s game, he batted .400 during the six-game homestand. . . . When the Dodgers moved into a tie for first place with the San Francisco Giants after Sunday’s game, it was the first time since the third game of last season they have been in the top spot. After 37 games last season, the Dodgers were nine games behind the Giants and in a tie for fifth place.