Dodgers Win in ’94 Style : Baseball: Lasorda revives last year’s lineup, and result is 5-3 victory.

Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda decided on his lineup card early Tuesday afternoon, began eating a plate of veal, and suddenly, something didn’t sit quite right.

He wasn’t convinced that simply starting Rick Parker ahead of Billy Ashley in left field would solve the team’s offensive woes, so he began soliciting ideas.

Hitting coach Reggie Smith, the rest of the coaching staff and veteran players were summoned. Lasorda deliberated and finally announced his brainstorm.

He was reverting to last year’s basic lineup. If it was good enough to carry the Dodgers to a first-place finish in last year’s strike-shortened season, it was good enough for this year.

Voila! The Dodgers shook off their dreadful slump, shed their losing streak and defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 5-3, at Three Rivers Stadium in their greatest offensive output in a month.

The Dodgers (21-23), who scored only one run in their previous 29 innings, hardly resembled the team that was swept last weekend by the Phillies. They produced 14 hits, their most since May 6 and four shy of their entire output during the Philadelphia series. They still had their flaws--leaving 10 runners on base and increasing their league-leading total to 337--but after what they’ve endured, who can be picky?

The revamped lineup was such a smashing success that everyone obtained at least one hit, and starter Ismael Valdes (3-2) got a career-high two hits. The Dodgers led off each of the first six innings with a hit, and scored in four of them.

Valdes and closer Todd Worrell ensured this rare offensive performance wasn’t wasted. Valdes yielded five hits and three runs in seven innings, and Worrell pitched a hitless 1 2/3 innings for his eighth save, extending his shutout skein to 21 2/3 innings.

“I think I gave up enough [blown saves and runs] last year to last a career,” said Worrell, who entered the game with runners on first and second, and struck out Rich Aude and Mark Parent on seven pitches. “I’m enjoying this streak.”

Who knows, the way Worrell is pitching, perhaps he can even be reunited with Angel closer Lee Smith in Arlington, Tex., for the All-Star game. The two former St. Louis Cardinal teammates have combined for 24 saves this season without yielding an earned run.

“It would be great to be there together,” Worrell said, “but if nothing else, we’re going to have to meet at least halfway one day for lunch.”

Lasorda, who says he can’t recall having a closer on such a streak, can only hope now that the revamped lineup will enable him to exploit Worrell’s success with more save opportunities.

“We should have been ahead of those guys by six or seven runs,” Lasorda said, “but hey, it was just nice to see runs again.”

The Dodgers’ new lineup featured Raul Mondesi being demoted from batting third to sixth, just like last year; Mike Piazza moving from cleanup to the No. 3 spot, just like last year; and Eric Karros moving from No. 5 to cleanup, just like the first month of last season and 3 1/2 weeks of this season.

“It makes a lot of sense,” Karros said. “We were in first place last year with Mike hitting third, and let’s face it, he’s our best hitter. And I was successful hitting fourth. Mondesi one day will be a good third-place hitter, but right now, I think he just needs more time.”

It’s not as if the Dodgers believe all of their problems are now cured. After all, they were facing the Pirates (16-26) and hitting against starter Jon Lieber, 3-6 with a 6.58 earned-run average. Yet there’s nothing more rewarding than instant gratification.

Leadoff hitter Delino DeShields got two hits and stole a base. Jose Offerman ended his 0-for-12 slump with two hits, including a two-run triple in the fourth inning. Piazza got two hits and drove in a run. Karros was two for three with two walks. And Mondesi ended an 0-for-13 skid with a single and his first sacrifice fly of the season.