Johnson Hit Gives Dodgers Momentum

Nothing out of the ordinary to report Thursday at Dodger Stadium, where it has become easier to expect the unexpected.

Another trade. A guy about to go on the disabled list pinch-running for a guy who should be on it. A 39-year-old who has battled Tourette’s Syndrome stealing a base, and the .202-hitting catcher driving him home with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning for a 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

“It was a big ballgame for us,” said the aforementioned catcher, Charles Johnson, who was nine for 55 in his first 16 games as a Dodger. “This is what wins in this game, momentum. This game gave us that.”

Back-to-back victories qualifies as momentum after losing four in a row. The players and the 41,181 fans at Dodger Stadium--most of whom were still around in the ninth inning thanks to the 4:30 p.m. start--sure reacted as if it were a big victory.

The Dodgers rushed out of the dugout to congratulate Jim Eisenreich after Johnson’s single brought him home two pitches after he stole second base.

About 90 minutes later, they boarded a bus to start their trip to Seattle, concluding a remarkable home stand that saw the team contend with numerous trade rumors concerning Mariner pitcher Randy Johnson, a published report that General Manager Fred Claire and Manager Bill Russell were about to lose their jobs, and the end of the Hideo Nomo Era in Los Angeles, which officially concluded Thursday when he and Brad Clontz were traded to the New York Mets for Dave Mlicki and Greg McMichael.

Now, about that game. Scott Radinsky (2-2) got the victory after pitching the top of the ninth. It was the second consecutive no-decision for starter Chan Ho Park, but also his second consecutive solid outing. He pitched seven innings, giving up five hits, four walks and two runs following his eight-inning, two-run start against Cincinnati on May 29.

For the first five innings, it appeared Park was destined for a loss. The Dodgers couldn’t do anything against Juan Acevedo, but he left with stiffness in his right elbow after three shutout innings.

The Cardinals scored their runs when catcher Tom Lampkin singled to drive in John Mabry (the injured Mark McGwire’s replacement at first base) in the second inning and on a sacrifice fly by Gary Gaetti to bring in Delino DeShields in the fifth.

Raul Mondesi hit a two-out single to right field to score Gary Sheffield for the Dodgers’ first run in the bottom of the sixth.

With Eric Young at second base and two out in the bottom of the eighth, a gimpy Eric Karros singled to tie the score.

Karros’ left knee, which required surgery in spring training, has been bothering him. He limped noticeably from the on-deck circle to the batter’s box. But his resiliency was enough to draw the praise of Russell.

“I just want to tell everybody, Eric Karros is playing on one leg,” Russell said. “What a tremendous effort that was today. The guy gives you everything he has. He should not be out there. He’s been doing that all year. What a great effort. What an inspiration.”

The other Dodgers should also take note of Todd Hollandsworth’s attempt to help. Even though he has torn cartilage in his left shoulder and will go on the 60-day disabled list today, he pinch-ran for Karros.

“We needed my legs right there,” Hollandsworth said.

“I told them, my legs are still good. I can still contribute.”