Luke Charts Unfamiliar Territory

Matt Luke is learning to deal with success, and he’s making up the rules as he goes along.

The Dodger rookie doesn’t know what to do next, because he’s traveling this road for the first time. It’s an unfamiliar experience for Luke, but one he always hoped to have.

“I’m still kind of in awe of everything that’s happening,” said Luke, who plays left field and first base. “Each day brings something new, something unexpected, and I’m just trying to enjoy every minute of this.”

He deserves to, the Dodgers said.

“He’s a guy who has worked real hard for the chance he’s getting, and he’s doing something with it,” Manager Bill Russell said. “We thought he could be a big part of this team.”

He started in left field Monday night in the Dodgers’ 3-2 loss, and is batting .263 after going 0 for 5.

Luke, who was claimed off waivers from the Yankees in the off-season, has started four games in left and four at first. He hit his first home run and went three for five Sunday as the Dodgers completed a three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs with a 4-3, 12-inning victory.

“I really don’t know how to approach this, other than I’m not going to take anything for granted,” Luke said. “The main thing for me, the thing I’m focusing on, is to just keep contributing to this team anyway that I can.”

His teammates appreciate the effort. “Matt Luke is giving us a big lift, and everyone knows that,” second baseman Eric Young said. You need to have confidence in the guys on the bench, and we definitely have confidence in him.”

*

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ HIDEO NOMO (1-3, 5.47 ERA)

vs.

BREWERS’ JOSE MERCEDES (2-0, 3.22 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7.

Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330).

* Update--The Dodgers are waiting for Nomo to make consecutive quality starts. He suffered his second consecutive loss last Thursday despite pitching a complete game in the Brewers’ 2-1 victory at County Stadium. He gave up two runs and three hits, and struck out six in eight innings. Mercedes defeated him in that game by giving up one run and six hits in seven innings.

Tickets--(213) 224-1448.