Athletics Return Favor to Dodgers

The shoe was on the other foot Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, and the error was on the other catcher.

And the other second baseman. And the other pitcher.

Not that the Dodgers needed much help the way Chan Ho Park pitched. Park turned in a sharp eight-inning performance in a 5-1 victory over Oakland in front of 46,244 as the Dodgers won for the third time in four games, but remained 8 1/2 games behind San Francisco in the National League West.

Park gave up only six hits, allowing the only run on a fifth-inning home run by Mike Blowers, and recorded his first victory since May 13.

“It’s been a while since Chan Ho got a victory, hasn’t it?” Dodger Manager Bill Russell said. “He pitched well. One run in eight innings, that’s outstanding.”

Since that May 13 victory over Philadelphia, Park (5-3) had lost twice and was coming off consecutive no-decisions--the most recent after giving up only two runs in seven innings against St. Louis in a 3-2 victory last Thursday.

Bothered by back stiffness early this season, Park was strong Tuesday, even though he was ill with flu the day before.

“Every time, I want to go out to start and finish,” said Park, who retired the first 10 batters he faced before Scott Spiezio singled with one out in the fourth. The hit extended Spiezio’s hitting streak to 18 games.

Park gave way to Scott Radinsky for the ninth inning after throwing 115 pitches.

Park pitched well and got plenty of help early from a faltering Oakland defense.

The Dodgers basically lost the opening game of the series Monday in the first inning when standout defensive catcher Charles Johnson committed a rare error, leading to three unearned runs.

Oakland’s Mike Macfarlane far outdid him Tuesday.

The Dodgers scored three unearned runs in the first--one on a passed ball that got away from Macfarlane and two more when Macfarlane’s throw to second trying to catch Raul Mondesi stealing sailed into center for an error.

“You know, it’s weird, but it’s part of the game,” Johnson said. “Those things happen. . . . Catching is a demanding position. Pitchers rely on you. The whole team relies on you. You can’t have a great game every game.”

Dodger second baseman Eric Young led off the first with a single off starter Jimmy Haynes, who lasted four innings and gave up five runs--only two of them earned.

The fun started when second baseman Scott Spiezio’s error allowed Jose Vizcaino to reach base. Then, with two out and runners on first and third, Macfarlane couldn’t handle one of Haynes’ pitches to Mondesi, and Young scampered home, with Vizcaino taking third.

Haynes ended up walking Mondesi. Then came Macfarlane’s errant throw to second with Mondesi stealing.

Mondesi slid headfirst into second, sprang back up and raced all the way home behind Vizcaino, taking Macfarlane’s legs out from under him on the slide at the plate.

“Mondesi’s hustle--you don’t see guys score from second on a play like that,” Russell said. “He’s got outstanding speed. Not too many guys can do that.”

“My mind said, ‘Go home,’ ” Mondesi said. “You’re going to win a lot of games if you just play hard every day.”

The Dodgers are still in transition with Johnson behind the plate, as he and the pitching staff acclimate to one another.

“[Park] pitched a very good game,” Johnson said. “He started out in a groove and stayed with it. It was one of his better outings since I came here. He stayed consistent with his approach the entire ballgame. He kept the ball down except at times he needed to get pitches up for strikes.”

The Dodgers scored their fourth run in the second after Bobby Bonilla walked, was sacrificed to second and scored on Young’s double. Young left the game early because of an aggravation of the quadriceps strain that cost him three games earlier this season.

Johnson scored the Dodgers’ final run after reaching on a walk in the fourth, scoring on Vizcaino’s double.

“Crazy things happen,” Johnson said, thinking of his error the night before. “You’ve got to keep every game in perspective.”