Karros’ Numbers Are Back on Target

It was a slow, painful process, coming back after nagging injuries and a horrendous start, but ever so quietly, Dodger first baseman Eric Karros is putting together another season with strong power numbers.

Karros entered Monday’s game with 20 homers and 54 runs batted in. He is almost on pace to become the first Dodger first baseman since Gil Hodges in 1953-1954 to produce 30 homers and 100 RBIs in successive seasons.

“If somebody were to tell me at the beginning of the year that I’d have the [power] numbers I have,” Karros said, “I’d be happy. It was frustrating at the beginning of the year, but I kept telling [reporters] to come see me at the end of the year and we’ll see where we stand. You’re not measured in April.

“I may never play in an All-Star game, but I’ll put up comparable numbers to anybody in my position at the end of the season.”

The Dodger management, which is elated with Karros’ power production and his attitude in the clubhouse, scoff at any speculation that he could be traded to allow catcher Mike Piazza to be moved to first.

“There’s no foundation for it,” said Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president. “There have been no significant internal discussions. It’s not even something that we’re thinking about.”

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Tom Candiotti received a clean bill of health Monday from Dr. Frank Jobe after a series of X-rays and tests. If his workout goes OK today, Candiotti will be cleared to start Friday against the Giants in San Francisco.

Candiotti, who was hit with a pitch in the right elbow in his last start July 6, was scratched at the last minute Sunday because of a tender elbow.

“Dr. Jobe told me, ‘it’s the cleanest elbow I’ve ever seen.’ Everything looked good. It’s just a matter of getting the fluid out, which will gradually go away with therapy.”

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Bill Russell, Dodger interim Manager, shook up the lineup before the game. He benched Chad Fonville, who is hitless in his last 12-bats, and started Wayne Kirby in center field. “We haven’t done much the last few days,” Russell said. “We just want a different look. [Fonville] did what we wanted him to. He got the team going. He’ll be back in there.”

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The Padres flip-flopped their rotation and will start Bob Tewksbury today and Joey Hamilton on Wednesday. . . . The Dodgers will celebrate breaking the 100-million mark in attendance at Dodger Stadium today by allowing fans to redeem their ticket stubs for one free reserved level set to any home game from July 30 to the end of the season.