Konerko Finally Has a Blast at Plate

Paul Konerko was hitless in his first eight at-bats after being recalled May 22 from triple-A Albuquerque, but his drought ended Saturday against the Seattle Mariners.

His two-out, two-run single was the key hit in the Dodgers’ four-run third inning. And Konerko led off the sixth with his first major league home run--his first extra-base hit--giving the Dodgers a 7-6 lead in a 10-6 victory.

Konerko was two for five with four RBIs, and he also played well at first base. Finally, Konerko contributed the way he believes he should.

“The first thing that went through my mind [on the home run] was, ‘It’s about time,’ ” Konerko said of his shot to center field, which was estimated at 431 feet.

“It’s funny, and I know players say this a lot, but the last thing on my mind was hitting a home run.”

Konerko hit the homer on a full count against reliever Bob Wells (0-1).

Manager Bill Russell was pleased by the rookie’s success.

“Konerko did what we want him to do,” Russell said. “He gets that big two-out base hit for us, then he comes back with the home run. He’s been waiting a long time for that.”

In his first tour with the Dodgers this season, Konerko was burdened by the pressure of the organization’s lofty expectations for him.

He has been groomed as the heir apparent to first baseman Eric Karros, and the timetable for his arrival accelerated after Karros underwent left knee surgery during spring training.

Dodger officials said publicly they weren’t shaken after Karros’ injury, because Konerko--last season’s minor league player of the year--was ready.

After going two for four on opening day, Konerko struggled. As the hitless games mounted, he tinkered with his swing and lost his confidence.

Konerko was optioned to Albuquerque on April 24. In 18 games with the Dodgers, he batted .197 (12 for 61) with two RBIs.

“I just let a lot of outside situations affect me,” said Konerko, who hit 37 homers in the minor leagues last season. “Maybe I thought what I did to get [to the major leagues] wasn’t good enough anymore, maybe that went through my mind.

“I know I tried to put a good season inside of 60 or 70 at-bats, and you just can’t do that.”

*

Ken Griffey Jr. hit his American League-leading 23rd homer in the third inning, against Dave Mlicki.

TODAY’S GAME

DODGERS’

DARREN DREIFORT

(3-5, 3.84 ERA)

vs.

MARINERS’

JAMIE MOYER

(3-5, 3.51 ERA)

Seattle Kingdome, 1:30 p.m.

TV--Channel 5. Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330).

Update--This is the final game of the three-game series. The Mariners wanted the Dodgers to include Dreifort in a proposed package for Randy Johnson, but they refused. After winning three consecutive starts, Dreifort lost Tuesday to the St. Louis Cardinals, 7-4. Dreifort pitched 7 2/3 innings and struck out a career-high eight, but he gave up six runs and walked six.