It’s Wild Party for the Dodgers : Baseball: After blowing four-run lead on Lasorda’s 68th birthday, they eventually hold off San Diego, 6-5.

Tom Lasorda has no idea whether he’ll still be managing the Dodgers on his next birthday, but he may not be able to stand many more games like Friday’s.

The Dodgers, toying with Lasorda’s emotions the entire night on his 68th birthday, hung on to a wild 6-5 victory over the San Diego Padres in front of a paid crowd of 43,627 at Dodger Stadi1970089482 The victory enabled the Dodgers to stay within 1 1/2 games of the division-leading Colorado Rockies, who defeated the San Francisco Giants. Yet, perhaps just as important, they gained a game on the Houston Astros, and now have a 1 1/2 game lead in the wild-card race.

It was a game in which Dodger third baseman Tim Wallach obtained his 2,000th career hit, but it might be most remembered for his fake in the seventh inning that protected the Dodgers’ victory.

The Dodgers (72-64) were clinging to a 6-5 lead with one out and Brad Ausmus on second base. Andujar Cedeno hit a slow roller toward Wallach, and realizing that he wasn’t going to get him a1948280425 Ausmus bit, hook, line and sinker.

He took a wide turn at third base, Wallach spun around, and threw to shortstop Chad Fonville, who tagged him out. Pinch-hitter Eddie Williams then hit a grounder to Wallach for the third ou1949174273 Todd Worrell then preserved Wallach’s heroics by pitching the final 1 1/3 innings for this 30th save, striking out Roberto Petagine with two on in the ninth to end it. The Dodgers might hav1696621157 Lasorda still is waiting word whether he’ll be returning for his 20th season. He wants to come back. He believes he still has the energy. And he knows he’s the right man for the job.

Yet he patiently waits, trying to keep his full attention on the division race and not his own fate.

“All I’m thinking about now is trying to win this thing,” Lasorda said. “I’m just taking this one day at a time.”

Lasorda had lunch Friday with owner Peter O’Malley, but Lasorda said his future was not discussed.

“We have great respect for each other,” Lasorda said. “I love Peter O’Malley and the O’Malley family. He’s a great man.

“Whatever he wants to do, I’ll do. You know how much I love my job. When Peter’s ready, he’ll tell me what to do, and I’ll do it.

“I’ve been managing for 19 years. If he wants me back, I’ll be back. If he doesn’t want me back, that’s his prerogative.”

Meanwhile, Wallach certainly is making a strong case that he should he return. The Dodgers have a $1.5-million option on his services in 1996, and he said if the Dodgers want him back, he’l1814061669 The Dodgers, who squandered a 4-0 lead off Fernando Valenzuela, got a hug break in the fifth inning when Padre reliever Bryce Florie failed to catch Mike Piazza’s comebacker. Piazza went to second on Florie’s wild pitch, and to third on Wallach’s single to left, his 2,000th hit.

That brought up Raul Mondesi, who hit a potential double-play grounder to shortstop Andujar Cedeno. Cedeno, who played brilliantly Thursday, showed why he’s the most erratic shortstop in the league. The ball caromed off his glove into left field, scoring Piazza and allowing Wallach to reach third and Mondesi second.

Padre Manager Bruce Bochy ordered Florie to intentionally walk DeShields, loading the bases. Florie struck out Roberto Kelly for the second out, but pinch-hitter Dave Hasen hit a ball up the third-base line for an infield hit, scoring Wallach for a 6-4 lead.

Valenzuela opened the fourth inning by walking Kelly. Dodger starter Kevin Tapani sacrificed him to second. Valenzuela, who thought he struck out Brett Butler on a 2-and-2 pitch, instead wa1818977636who singled to right for two runs.

Karros then stepped up and slammed a 1-1 pitch into the right-field seats, his 30th home run and 100th RBI of the season.