Fasten Seat Belts: It's Going to Be a Rocky Series

By MIKE DOWNEY

Sept. 25, 1995 12 AM PT

Chad Fonville has started 69 Dodger games, including the last 63 in a row. And since the All-Star break, the Dodgers have won 40 games, lost 29. You do the math.

No wonder second baseman Delino DeShields says: “Chad’s a special little dude.”

Everybody’s eager and ready for the Colorado Rockies, including that little energizing bunny, Fonville, who scampered all over the ravine again Sunday. In a runaway against San Diego, 6-2, the hip-hop shortstop legged out another infield hit--his 40th! (second in the National League)--and darted in front of DeShields, on the wrong side of second base, to make a dazzling play, propelling himself on the throw so far that he landed on his belly.

Fonville also fouled one off his right ankle, bruising it.

“But I’m a tough guy,” he said. “I’m not coming out now. Too important.”

I’ll say. In fact, that’s how the Dodgers and Rockies ought to advertise this series: Too Important. This is where we separate the men from the wild cards.

Or, in the words of the Dodger keystone combo:

Fonville: “We’re very pumped. We’ve got to put it to ‘em.”

DeShields: “Time to put up or shut up.”

Upside: The Dodgers have home field and momentum. Brett Butler and Fonville, a one-two punch that’s more like a jab, are driving defenses nuts by dragging bunts or beating out routine infield taps. Mike Piazza has stopped breaking bats in half and begun knocking the cover off the ball, including a 448-foot homer Sunday that prompted Tony Gwynn to say, “I thought he hit it on the roof.”

Downside: The Dodgers haven’t been all that hot at home. Furthermore, they have never swept a series from the Rockies, home or away. Raul Mondesi is struggling so badly, the Padres actually pitched to him with two Dodgers on and first base open, rather than face No. 8 batter Roberto Kelly.

“Now that surprised me,” Kelly said. “I wouldn’t ever have thought they’d do that.”

A month ago, would they?

“No way in the world,” Kelly said.

Upside: Kelly’s the hottest he has been since joining the club, on a .519 spree over an eight-game span, and 24 for 68 (.353) for the month of September.

“Good time for me to get hot,” Kelly said. “It’s all in our hands now. Nobody to blame but ourselves.”

Downside: Hideo Nomo made it through only five innings. He hasn’t lasted more than five in four of his last six starts. Is he OK? The Dodgers say yes. Will he pitch against the Rockies? The Dodgers say no. But the scheduled starter for Wednesday is still “Undecided,” which means . . . who? Ismael Valdes? Kevin Tapani? Big game there for somebody.

Upside: The Dodgers have their game faces on.

Piazza’s first instinct is to soft-pedal a Rocky rivalry, then tosses in: “But there’s no love lost there.”

Eric Karros considers treading softly, saying, “Oh, just leave it that we’re chasing them,” yet can’t resist mocking the notion that Colorado is a mere “expansion team,” when most of the Rockies have been around longer than most of the Dodgers. He says this is “already providing a security blanket” for the Rockies, in case they lose.

As for the Dodgers, their record is 10 games over .500 for the first time all season. They are 13-6 over the last three weeks.

Who’s responsible?

Tim Wallach, a gamer who didn’t let a serious injury keep him away? Piazza, ditto? Karros, daring pitchers to pass Piazza and fill the bases? Todd Worrell, charging from the bullpen like a bull?

You can’t avoid going back to Fonville.

“There really is something special about him,” DeShields said. “He doesn’t hit the ball real hard, but he can disrupt a game all by himself.

“That play he made? I was standing there waiting to catch it. Suddenly he shoots in front of me, like a bullet. I’m used to going after every ball. But lately I’ve been telling him, ‘Anything you can get, man, go get it.’ ”

A lot of pressure on so little a guy.

“Pressure?” Fonville asked. “No, there’s no pressure, no pressure at all. I can’t wait for the Rockies to get here. This is the fun part.”

Hello, Colorado. Welcome to funville.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

National League Playoff Race

The standings and remaining schedule for the National League West:

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W L Pct. GB Colorado 74 63 .540 -- Dodgers 74 64 .536 1/2 San Diego 66 72 .478 8 1/2 San Francisco 65 72 .474 9

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Today through Wednesday

Colorado at Dodgers, San Diego at San Francisco

Thursday through Sunday