Piazza Finally Lets His Bat Do All the Talking

He has been bothered by his messy contract negotiations, booed by the Dodger fans and burdened by his poor start.

Mike Piazza has had better weeks.

But with two swings of his bat Thursday night, the all-star catcher brought back cheers by hitting a grand slam and a two-run home run in the Dodgers’ 7-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks before 39,541 at Dodger Stadium.

The 17th multi-homer game of Piazza’s career--combined with 6 2/3 strong innings from starter Ismael Valdes (1-1)--was more than the Diamondbacks could overcome. And it was exactly what Piazza needed after his tumultuous time.

“I don’t want to over-analyze everything, but I’m obviously only human,” said Piazza, who went two for three with six runs batted in.

“It was a tough situation, but being mentally tough is part of what being a big league ballplayer is all about. It was a bump in the road, but you just have to try to block out all the negative things as best you can.”

He did Thursday.

Piazza staked Valdes to a 2-0 lead in the first inning with his first homer and RBIs of the season.

With one out and Jose Vizcaino at first, he hit an 0-and-1 pitch from Arizona starter Jeff Suppan (0-2) into the left-field pavilion. The homer traveled approximately 445 feet--and stirred the crowd with excitement for Piazza for the first time.

“That first home run just seemed like a tremendous lift for Mike and the whole team,” said second baseman Eric Young, who went three for four with two runs and a stolen base.

“I felt real good for the big guy, because he needed that. And it was exactly what we needed too.”

Piazza wasn’t done. Valdes opened the third with a single to center, one of his two hits, and Young and Vizcaino had bunt singles to load the basses for Piazza.

On another 0-and-1 count from Suppan, Piazza hit a high fly to deep left-center. Center fielder Devon White leaped and got his glove on the ball, but it still went over the wall.

“I had it and it bounced out,” White said. “I had it.”

The crowd erupted in cheers after the sixth grand slam of Piazza’s career, convincing him to make a curtain call.

“They wanted me to go back out, so I went back out,” Piazza said. “I unfortunately got off to a tough start, but it’s such a long year. I kind of feel like I’ve turned a page.”

Valdes gave up two runs on eight hits, and Scott Radinsky and Jim Bruske combined to pitch 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. But the night was Piazza’s--and he earned it, the Dodgers said.

“He carried the team tonight, and that’s what everyone wants him to do,” Manager Bill Russell said. “You see the fans booed him, but they cheered him after that home run.”

The fans presumably had been angry at Piazza over the money he has sought in negotiations for a multiyear contract extension.

The contentious negotiations ended Wednesday, until after the season, with the sides more than $20 million apart.

The contract situation and the sharp criticism weighed heavily on Piazza, teammates said.

“He’s the guy who takes it to bed with him every evening, and who wakes up with it every morning,” said third baseman Todd Zeile, among Piazza’s closest friends on the team. “But Mike is a professional, and there isn’t anyone who doubts that Mike is totally committed to this team.”