Mlicki Records a Save of Sorts

Dave Mlicki didn’t realize he was auditioning to keep his spot in the Dodger starting rotation Thursday night.

The right-hander took the mound hoping to help his struggling team--and wound up helping himself as well.

Mlicki pitched seven strong innings in a 2-1 victory in 10 innings over the Florida Marlins before a crowd of 27,664 at Pro Player Stadium, securing his role even if Ismael Valdes comes off the disabled list next week as expected. .

“That was real big with the way things have been going for us lately,” Manager Glenn Hoffman said. “He got his pitches over and he gave us a chance to hang in there.”

Jim Eisenreich forced in the winning run with a bases-loaded walk in the Dodgers’ first appearance here since the seven-player Mike Piazza trade May 15. Eisenreich, Gary Sheffield, Bobby Bonilla, Charles Johnson and a minor leaguer were acquired for Piazza and third baseman Todd Zeile, who now play for the New York Mets and Texas Rangers, respectively.

Sheffield was booed throughout the game because the fans here are upset about comments he made when the Marlins began slashing their payroll after winning last season’s World Series.

Scott Radinsky (6-5) pitched two scoreless innings to earn the victory, and all-star closer Jeff Shaw nailed down his 37th save despite a shaky performance.

The Marlins had successive two-out singles in the 10th against Shaw, who has only one blown save in 15 opportunities with the Dodgers. Shaw closed out the Dodgers’ first victory in three games on the trip by getting Mark Kotsay to ground out.

The Dodgers improved to 63-64 with their sixth victory in 18 games in August, and moved closer to the Mets in the National League wild-card race. They now trail front-running New York by 7 1/2 games.

It’s not where they want to be--but it’s better than where they’ve been.

“Every win is huge for us because we’ve been having a hard time,” left fielder Matt Luke said. “We’re at that time of the year when you need people to step up . . . and that’s what [Mlicki] did tonight.”

Mlicki gave up three hits and one run. He struck out seven and overcame five walks while throwing 93 pitches, 53 for strikes. He has struggled in three of his last four starts, becoming the leading candidate to move to the bullpen when Valdes is activated.

Valdes, who has sat out the last 22 games because of strained stomach muscles, is scheduled to return Thursday if all goes well during his rehabilitation start for the Class-A Vero Beach Dodgers on Saturday. But instead of bumping Mlicki, Hoffman said he will use a six-man rotation when Valdes returns.

“That was a big boost for the club, and maybe it was a big boost for him too,” Hoffman said. “Things might have been different [if Mlicki didn’t pitch well], but this is the way we’re going to go for now.”

Mlicki wasn’t aware of the stakes.

“I honestly wasn’t thinking about that at all,” he said. “I really felt that this was a game we needed to win because nothing has been going our way lately.”

The Dodgers continued to struggle offensively, stranding 11 runners against the Marlins’ inexperienced pitching staff.

Sheffield’s leadoff solo home run--his 20th homer this season and 200th in his career--in the second was their only run against Marlin rookie starter Rafael Medina. The 23-year-old right-hander pitched 6 2/3 innings and gave up four hits and five walks.

The Dodgers scored the winning run in the 10th without benefit of a hit.

Rookie Justin Speier (0-2) walked leadoff batter Eric Young to open the inning, and Mark Grudzielanek was safe on a fielder’s choice at first.

Raul Mondesi reached first on a fielder’s choice, and Sheffield was walked intentionally with one out to load the bases. After Eric Karros struck out looking, Eisenreich, pinch-hitting for Radinsky, walked on four pitches to drive in Young with the winning run.

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DODGER REPORT, C11