Leadoff Role Is Now Kirby’s to Lose

The Dodgers don’t profess to have found the prototypical leadoff hitter.

They can’t even guarantee how long he’ll remain in the lineup.

All they know is that for now, Wayne Kirby is as good as anything they’ve got, and the Dodgers will ride him as long he stays hot.

Kirby went three for three with a double and a walk during Saturday’s 7-6 loss to the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park. It was only the fifth time this season that a Dodger leadoff hitter reached base four times.

Considering that Dodger leadoff hitters this season have batted only .224 with 55 runs scored, it’s little wonder why Manager Bill Russell said that Kirby will remain at leadoff until further notice.

The credit, Kirby says, belongs to his wife. Cara Kirby mailed hitting tapes from Kirby’s 1993 and 1994 seasons to Candlestick Park, and 30 minutes before game time, Kirby and hitting coach Reggie Smith realized what was wrong.

“I got a headache from watching so much film,” Kirby said, “but we realized what I was doing wrong. It made a big difference. I was able to see the ball better rather than getting tied up.”

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The San Diego Padres are inching closer to a deal to acquire outfielder Bobby Bonilla from the Baltimore Orioles for two pitchers, according to a Padre executive. The deal could be consummated any day, and may be contingent on a deal that would send first baseman Eddie Murray from the Cleveland Indians to the Orioles. It could also clear a potential trade that would send Chicago Cub first baseman Mark Grace to Cleveland.

Yet, just because the Padres make what could be a major acquisition, the Dodgers will not necessarily react.

“I won’t play that game,” said Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president. “I’m trying to improve the team within the framework I have to deal with. Whether San Diego does something, or Colorado does something, that won’t dictate what I will do.”

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The Dodgers rested shortstop Greg Gagne after making two errors Friday night, and replacement Juan Castro responded with a double and run-scoring triple. . . . The Dodgers are going to miss Giant starter Mark Leiter. He is 0-2 with a 15.00 ERA in three starts against the Dodgers this season, yielding 15 runs and 23 hits in nine innings. . . . Dodger catcher Mike Piazza sent the bat he used for the home run in the All-Star game to the Hall of Fame.