Konerko Has Perfect Debut

Manager Bill Russell waited about a week to find a spot to give Paul Konerko, the most valuable player in the Pacific Coast League, his first major league at-bat.

But that’s nothing compared to Konerko himself, who had been waiting for that at-bat almost all his life.

When it finally came Monday night, in the bottom of the eighth inning of an 8-4 loss to the Florida Marlins, Konerko wasn’t disappointed.

Nor were the Dodgers.

He responded with a solid single to right.

“It was weird,” he said. “This is something I’ve been thinking about since I started playing baseball. Every guy who has ever played thinks about hitting at the major league level. It was just a small thing, but to me it was a big deal.”

TONIGHT’S GAME

DODGERS’ RAMON MARTINEZ (9-3, 3.42 ERA) vs. BRAVES’ TOM GLAVINE (12-7, 3.25 ERA) Dodger Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

TV--Fox Sports West 2.

Radio--KABC (790), KWKW (1330).

* Update--The bad news for the Dodgers is that they have to face Glavine, one of the three Cy Young Award winners on this Atlanta staff. The good news for the Dodgers is they have handled Glavine pretty well in the past. The Brave southpaw is only 12-14 against them in his career with a 4.07 ERA. Martinez will try to remain unbeaten since coming off the disabled list. Since his right rotator cuff healed, Martinez is 3-0 with a 3.38 ERA in three starts.