Mondesi Says He Hasn’t Changed

Raul Mondesi took some of the pressure off pitcher-on-the-spot Ismael Valdes on Sunday with a first-inning grand slam against the Cincinnati Reds.

Unfortunately for Mondesi, after the Dodger bullpen went up in flames again in a 6-5 loss, his blast to left field was all but forgotten.

It was the second grand slam of Mondesi’s career, the first since Aug. 15, 1995, against the Chicago Cubs.

It was also the fifth this season for the Dodgers, the most in the National League. The Dodgers hit a Los Angeles club record six grand slams in 1960, ‘77, ’79 and ’85. The franchise record is eight set in 1952.

After Jose Vizcaino singled and Gary Sheffield and Eric Karros walked, Red starter Mike Remlinger served up a 2-and-0 fastball that Mondesi hit out for his 14th homer.

Mondesi, who has 38 runs batted in, said he has not changed his approach since Mike Piazza and Todd Zeile were traded on May 15. He is 19 for 61 with six homers, 17 RBIs and nine runs since the trade.

“I’m playing the game the same,” said Mondesi, who signed a four-year, $36-million contract in the off-season that could become a six-year $60-million deal if the club exercises two options. “Now I get chances to drive in runs because of Sheffield. They’ve got to pitch to me.”

On Sunday, Mondesi also made an impact with his glove in center field, which he has played flawlessly since moving from right field after the trade.

Mondesi took a home run away from Willie Greene in the ninth inning when he leaped and caught a ball that had cleared the fence in right-center.

“They asked me to move to center field and I do the best I can for the team,” said Mondesi, who last played center field in 1995. “I want to win. If the team is going to be better with me playing center field, I’ll play center field. I’m the same player I always was, giving 100%.”

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Bullpen coach Mark Cresse took some ribbing from Dodger players when his son, Brad, struck out twice in his first two at-bats for Louisiana State in the Tigers’ College World Series opener against USC on Saturday.

So Cresse headed to the bullpen to watch some of the game on a hand-held portable set while he waited for Hideo Nomo to begin his pregame warmup.

Brad Cresse, the Tigers’ catcher, then hit the first of his two homers in LSU’s 12-10 victory over the Trojans.

“I was so pumped up, I immediately wanted to come down [to the clubhouse] to share this with some of the guys,” Mark Cresse said. “So I went running out screaming from the bullpen. One of the fans asked my bullpen catcher, ‘They made the trade, huh? We got Randy Johnson.’

“They thought my enthusiasm was over that.”

With the Dodgers off today, Mark Cresse will be in the stands at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha for LSU’s game against Mississippi State. He will return to Los Angeles in time for Tuesday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals.