Mondesi Likes Batting in Third Spot

Right fielder Raul Mondesi moved from fifth to third in the batting order, replacing Mike Piazza, who was given the day off.

Tom Prince started in place of Piazza, who had started the last 11 games.

Mondesi, who went two for four, drove in two runs and scored twice. He doubled in the third inning to tie a Los Angeles Dodger record with his 66th extra base hit of the season. He shares the record with Steve Garvey (1978) and Pedro Guerrero (1983).

“He’s a different hitter when he’s hitting third,” first baseman Eric Karros said of Mondesi. “He’s more of a contact hitter who tries to make things happen and I think when he’s hitting fifth, he’s a little more power-oriented.

Mondesi said he likes batting third.

“Last year I batted third for almost one month and I think I hit .250 and got 25 RBIs,” he said. “They have to throw me more strikes when I bat third.”

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Second baseman Delino DeShields returned to the lineup after being benched for four consecutive games. DeShields, who had only one hit in his last 30 at-bats, reached on a bunt single in the fourth inning.

Asked about his return to the lineup, all DeShields would say was, “It’s just nice to be alive, you know what I’m saying? I’m just happy to be here.”