Osuna Leaves to Be With Sick Father

Reliever Antonio Osuna left the team Tuesday morning to go to Sinaloa, Mexico, in order to be with his father, Alberto, who is undergoing medical tests after a tumor was discovered in his throat.

The younger Osuna plans on rejoining the Dodgers in Pittsburgh in time for Thursday’s game against the Pirates, which kicks off an 11-game road trip.

*

In the 13th inning Monday night, the Dodgers’ hopes of holding off the Milwaukee Brewers were riding on the right arm of outfielder Raul Mondesi. Normally, that is a pretty safe ride.

But Monday a disastrous detour spoiled that ride.

It occurred with two out and Fernando Vina taking off from second on a single to right by Jeromy Burnitz.

Vina gambled he could beat Mondesi’s throw and bring home the potential winning run.

Few runners take such a gamble on Mondesi, knowing they probably will find the ball waiting for them at the plate.

That appeared to be the case when Mondesi came up with the ball and let loose with one of his trademark throws, long and straight.

But with catcher Tom Prince, a late-inning replacement for Mike Piazza, straddling the plate and awaiting the seemingly inevitable tag, the ball hit the worst of all possible spots for the Dodgers, the area around home plate where the grass runs out and the dirt begins.

“It was a good throw,” Prince said, “but it hit the edge of the grass and just ate me up.”

As the ball skidded past the helpless Prince, Vina came home with the run that allowed the Brewers to edge the Dodgers, 3-2.

*

Mondesi, who has been battling an early-season slump, had a career-high five hits Monday. His previous best had been four hits in a game, something he had accomplished eight times.

*

When Peter O’Malley owned the Dodgers, he pursued his interest in international baseball by making contacts all over the world. The presence of Hideo Nomo from Japan and Chan Ho Park from Korea is evidence of the value of those contacts.

Any question whether new owner Rupert Murdoch would maintain those contacts would seem to be answered with the announcement that the Dodgers have opened an office in Tokyo, the first such office ever opened by an American big-league team.

Eizaburo Kohrogi, assistant to the team president in the Dodger front office, will oversee the new office under his new title of director of Asian relations.

*

First baseman Eric Karros, appearing in only his fourth game of the season Tuesday after sitting out the first month because of knee surgery, has been batting sixth in the lineup rather than his customary cleanup spot.

But it won’t be for long, Manager Bill Russell said.

Karros, still trying to regain his timing at the plate, had two hits Tuesday to raise his average to .286.

“A few more games and he’ll be back up there,” Russell said.

*

With eight home runs and 24 RBIs, both career bests for the month of April, catcher Mike Piazza would need a homer and five RBI in Thursday’s game at Pittsburgh to equal the club records for April in those categories, both set by third baseman Ron Cey in 1977.