Rodriguez Puts on Show, Expos Get to Worrell

The Dodgers could use outfielder Henry Rodriguez, exiled to the Montreal Expos last season.

Rodriguez, who was traded to the Expos last year after spending nine seasons in the Dodger organization, had two singles in four at-bats and scored the winning run in the ninth inning as the Expos defeated the Dodgers, 3-2, Monday night before 25,600 at Dodger Stadium.

Closer Todd Worrell, who had eight saves in his first nine opportunities, failed to protect a 2-0 lead after replacing starter Pedro Astacio with no outs in the ninth inning.

Worrell wasn’t throwing in the bullpen when he was summoned to replace Astacio, who gave up back-to-back singles to Mark Grudzielanek and Mike Lansing to open the inning.

After fouling off several pitches from Worrell, Rodriguez hit a bullet to right to load the bases with no outs and David Segui drilled a two-run double into the right field box seats to tie it.

Worrell, who allowed one run on three hits in two-thirds of an inning, gave up the go-ahead run on Darrin Fletcher’s sacrifice fly to left, which scored Rodriguez. Worrell was booed of the mound after giving up a single to pinch hitter Dave Silvestri.

Expo closer Mel Rojas struck out the side after giving up a walk to Roger Cedeno as the Expos won their 10th one-run game. Rojas, who struck out pinch hitter Dave Hansen before walking Cedeno, ended the game by striking out Raul Mondesi and Mike Piazza.

The Dodgers went into Monday night’s game with the second worst team batting average (.235) in the majors, while Rodriguez ranks among the league leaders in batting average (.353, homers (15), RBIs (46), slugging percentage (.783) and extra base hits (27).

“I’m very happy because I got to see my fans and friends,” Rodriguez said. “It was nice to see all the people I left behind.”

Rodriguez, who hit .246 with 20 homers with the Dodgers, said he bears no grudge against his former team, who unloaded him to the Expos for outfielder Roberto Kelly and pitcher Joey Eischen last May.

“This is business,” Rodriguez said. “They did what they had to do. It was a new opportunity for me. I’m getting to play every day.”

Rodriguez, who missed 83 games last season with a broken leg, attributes his fast start to a weight-lifting program that helped him add 10 pounds of muscle.

“I feel confidence in myself,” Rodriguez said. “I’m playing well now and I don’t think I have to show nobody what I can do. They [the Dodgers] knew what I can do before they traded me. I’m just going to do my job and do what Henry can do. I’m just going to be myself.”

Said Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda about Rodriguez: “I’m happy for him, he’s a good guy. I wish him nothing but the best except for the next three days. What success he’s having now couldn’t happen to a nicer fellow.

“When I called Henry and told him he had to leave, he broke down and cried, that’s how much he loved it here.”

Robbed of an extra-base hit by first baseman Eric Karros in the fourth inning as the Dodgers extended their errorless streak to seven consecutive games. Rodriguez had a leadoff double in the seventh inning. Rodriguez, who advanced to third when Segui grounded out to second, was thrown out at the plate by second baseman Delino DeShields on Fletcher’s grounder. The Dodger infield was playing up and DeShields easily nailed Rodriguez as Piazza blocked the plate.

Astacio (2-3), who allowed five hits and no runs before departing with a two-run lead, deserved a better fate.

Astacio, who gave up one run on two hits in his last start, allowed three hits in the first eight innings before Grudzielanek led off the ninth with a bloop single to right and Lansing followed with a single down the left field line.

Piazza had two hits in five at-bats with a home run and accounted for both Dodger runs, scoring on Delino DeShields’ sixth-inning grounder and drilling his 10th homer of the season in the eighth inning off reliever Barry Manuel on a shot between the center field flag poles.

Piazza also blocked the plate to prevent the Expos from scoring as DeShields threw out Rodriguez at home.