Dodgers Are Looking Just Dashing, 7-1

The Dodgers left town 10 days ago as a baseball team, but they returned as a track squad.

With recently acquired Eric Young at second base and Darren Lewis in left, and Otis Nixon out of his slump and on base, the Dodgers ran away from the Oakland Athletics on Thursday night.

In the first regular-season game played at Dodger Stadium between the two teams, the Dodgers won, 7-1, behind Hideo Nomo and the relief of Mark Guthrie.

The victory, coupled with a San Francisco Giant loss, increased the Dodgers’ NL West lead over their Northern California rivals to a season-high 2 1/2 games.

How fast were the Dodgers on Thursday?

* They scored three runs in the first inning on one hit, along with three walks and three stolen bases.

* They equaled their season high in stolen bases in a game by the third inning, when they picked up their fifth.

* They set a season high with seven stolen bases including three by Nixon, most for any Dodger this season.

But it wasn’t only the steals that propelled the Dodgers and seemed to intimidate the Athletics. It was the little things that speed can turn into big runs.

In the first, after three walks, a Young steal and a double steal by Young and Mike Piazza loaded the bases with two out, Todd Zeile singled to drive in a pair. But then, with Zeile caught between first and second, Oakland catcher Brent Mayne made a throw to second.

That’s all Raul Mondesi, crouched at third, needed, He flashed his own blazing speed and beat the throw home, eliciting a huge cheer from the crowd of 51,392.

Striking early has become a pattern for the Dodgers in a spurt that has seen them win nine of 11 games. The Dodgers have scored in the first inning in eight of those games, including their last seven in a row. Overall in their last 11 games, the Dodgers have scored a total of 16 first-inning runs.

Thursday’s fast start might have unnerved a lot of pitchers more experienced than Eric Ludwick (0-1), called up from Oakland’s triple-A team at Edmonton on Thursday and shoved into the starting rotation. He had only one previous big league start, losing to the Cincinnati Reds last season as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals.

But this time, Ludwick hung firm until the fifth inning when the Dodgers took advantage of an error by first baseman Jason Giambi that allowed Nixon to get aboard.

Piazza followed with a single and it was off to the races once again.

Nixon and Piazza pulled off a double steal and Mondesi singled them both home to boost the Dodgers into a 5-0 lead.

Piazza wound up the night with two walks and a single, continuing an amazing week for the Dodger catcher.

It began in Philadelphia last Friday night when he doubled in his last trip to the plate against the Phillies. Including that at-bat, Piazza has been on base 24 of his last 31 plate appearances.

The Dodgers’ final two runs came in the sixth inning via a Nixon double with two men aboard. Greg Gagne scored on the hit and Young scored when left fielder Jason McDonald had trouble picking up the ball near the seats down the line.

From that point on, the only question was whether Nomo (13-10) would be able to get his second complete game of the season.

He couldn’t.

When McDonald singled home a run in the eighth, Manager Bill Russell went to his bullpen after Nomo had given up four hits and the one run while striking out nine and walking two.

Nomo enjoyed the Dodger track meet.

“It’s fun to watch,” he said through an interpreter, “and even more fun to pitch in the game.”

That is, unless you’re on the other side trying to figure out a way to slow these guys down.