Garcia Happy in New Surroundings

Arizona outfielder Karim Garcia was once a top prospect in the Dodger organization, stirring excitement with his power and speed.

But his star fell as fast as it rose.

Garcia was left unprotected in the November expansion draft, and he was selected by the Diamondbacks in the first round. He is starting over in Arizona, and he’s thankful for the opportunity.

“I think this is a pretty good situation for me,” said Garcia, who started in right field and went one for three with a run batted in during the Dodgers’ 9-1 victory.

“I’ve been playing a lot in right and some in left, and I feel good about how everything is going. I’m very happy, because I’m getting to play. I’m getting the opportunity I always wanted.”

At 19, Garcia had a breakthrough season at triple-A Albuquerque in 1995.

He batted .319 with 20 home runs and 91 runs batted in for the Dukes. He also had 26 doubles, 10 triples and 12 stolen bases, and was selected the minor league player of the year by The Sporting News.

To hear the Dodgers tell it, as they often do, Garcia, now 22, was destined for success.

He was called up on June 12 last season, and he batted .128 (five for 39) with one homer and eight RBIs in 15 games. The Dodgers began having doubts about Garcia’s work ethic and maturity.

He missed most of the second half of the season after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder.

“I only had a couple of at-bats [with the Dodgers], and I didn’t get the chance to show what I could do in the major leagues,” he said. “People didn’t realize that I was only 19 when I started getting all that attention, and there was a lot of pressure on me.”

Join the crowd, Fred Claire said.

“There is pressure on every young player who comes to the Dodgers,” the executive vice president said. “We’re a club that is expected to win, and every young player who comes to the Dodgers faces those expectations. That’s the nature of the assignment.

“Karim is a very talented young player. The only thing he needs to do is maintain his focus on the task at hand.”

Garcia has struggled, batting .086 (two for 23) with one home run and two RBIs. But he is determined to prove his worth.

“There are no hard feelings,” he said. “I just I want to prove to everybody I can play here. Not only the Dodgers.”

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Chan Ho Park aggravated the lower back strain he suffered at the end of spring training.

But Park doesn’t expect to miss his next start.

“It’s just a little more sore than before,” Park said. “It hurt a little bit when I was throwing [in the] bullpen before the game, but I think it will be OK.”

Park (1-1) gave up one unearned run and seven hits. He struck out five with a walk, and doubled and scored a run in the third.

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For one of the few times in his career, Mike Piazza was booed repeatedly at Dodger Stadium.

Negotiations between Piazza and the Dodgers on a multiyear contract extension for him have been contentious, and the fans presumably were not pleased about the money Piazza is seeking.

“It’s something that all players have to deal with at some point in their careers,” Manager Bill Russell said. “But Mike is a professional, and he won’t let this affect the job he has to do.”

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Former pitcher Carl Erskine threw out the first pitch.

Erskine earned the victory in the Dodgers’ first game in Los Angeles at the Coliseum on April 18, 1958--6-5 against the San Francisco Giants.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ HIDEO NOMO (0-0, 3.86 ERA) vs. DIAMONDBACKS’ BRIAN ANDERSON (0-1, 7.50 ERA))

Dodger Stadium, 7:30

TV--None. Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330)

* Update--After struggling during their season-opening road trip, the Dodgers had 13 hits in a 9-1 victory over Arizona in the home opener Tuesday. “No one on this team is surprised by what we did,” outfielder Todd Hollandsworth said. “We have a bunch a very capable guys on this team, and we’re back home in our environment.” Nomo had a no-decision in his first start against the Cincinnati Reds, but he struck out seven consecutive batters. Johnny Podres set the team record with eight straight strikeouts against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 2, 1962. Anderson gave up three home runs in a 6-4 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Thursday.