Dodger Defense Key to 10-1 Win

It’s still difficult at times for the Dodgers to fathom.

When you are known for hideous defense, providing nightly comedy for Leno, Letterman and the folks at ESPN, you start to get accustomed to the array of bloops, bungles and blunders. The blame might have always been directed at former shortstop Jose Offerman, but in truth, the supporting cast was there to lend a helping hand.

This is why the Dodgers couldn’t help but grin Friday night watching the reaction in their 10-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Three Rivers Stadium.

The Pirates watched in disbelief as Todd Hollandsworth stole a two-run home run from Dave Clark in the first inning. They were stunned when right fielder Raul Mondesi took a two-run double or triple away from Jay Bell in the fifth. And they were dazzled by the play of shortstop Greg Gagne.

“That’s some team they got over there,” Pirate Manager Jim Leyland said. “The only thing that’s been holding them back has been defense. You sure can’t say that anymore.”

The Dodgers, who scored eight runs--seven unearned--in the ninth inning to turn a 2-1 game into a rout, are back at .500.

“We’re better defensively than we’ve been since I got here,” said first baseman Eric Karros, who had a three-run homer in the ninth inning, when seven runs scored with two outs. “It’s not so much expected when we make those plays, but we’re not as surprised. You just have confidence in what guys are capable of doing.”

The pitching staff and defense have kept the team afloat the first month of the season. While their offense has struggled, the pitchers are yielding a 2.75 earned-run average, the best in baseball.

“I don’t know if these guys can keep it up,” said second baseman Delino DeShields, who stole two bases and scored in the ninth inning. “If we can get these guys some runs, there’s no telling what they can do.”

Perhaps the best-kept secret this season has been catcher Mike Piazza. Sure, he continues to receive all of the accolades for his offense, hitting his sixth home run in 13 games Friday and raising his average to .374 while equaling his career best by hitting in his 16th consecutive game.

Yet, while Piazza acknowledges that he’s in one of those hitting grooves, his defense and game-calling skills have been overlooked.

“It’s obvious people look at me as a one-dimensional catcher,” Piazza said. “They don’t think I can catch or am on a par with Gold Glovers. I’ll be the first one to say that I have shortcomings defensively, but I take pride in what I’m doing back there.

“To me, you can just look at the results, that’s the barometer. I must be doing something right.”

Chan Ho Park (3-1), who pitched only five innings and produced the first hit and RBI of his career, was the first to attest that the defense was responsible for his victory. He cheered when Hollandsworth jumped at the left-field fence in the first inning and, reaching backhanded, took away Clark’s home run.

“When a club struggles offensively, you’ve got to put up the defense first and foremost,” said Hollandsworth, who was two for two and raised his average to .288. “The defense has saved us. It’s been there all year.”

Then came Mondesi’s play. The Dodgers were clinging to a 2-1 lead with runners on first and second in the fifth inning when Bell hit a drive into right-center. Two runs figured to score, and the only question was whether Bell would have a double or triple. On the dead run, Mondesi then reached across his head, and caught the ball before running into the fence.

“Mondesi’s catch saved the game,” Manager Tom Lasorda said. “The whole game changes around if he doesn’t catch that ball.”

Said Mondesi, who was in a three-for-42 skid until his ninth-inning homer: “I just told myself, ‘I’ve got to catch that ball.’ If I don’t hit, I’ve got to at least play some defense. I’m just doing my job.

“I think we all are.”