Dodgers Manage a Huge Victory

Bill Russell is on shaky ground with his Dodger superiors, but the manager won’t go away meekly.

Russell is doing everything he can to prove he deserves more time at the Dodgers’ controls, and he’s battling the only way he knows how: by continuing to dedicate himself to his job.

His team also responded to challenges Friday night in a 4-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies in 10 innings.

The Dodgers acknowledged before the game that they expect staff ace Ramon Martinez to undergo season-ending surgery to repair his damaged throwing shoulder, which further added to their pitching problems. And then they overcame another poor performance by reliever Scott Radinsky.

After the Rockies tied the score, 3-3, against Radinsky in the eighth, Eric Karros provided the game-winner in the 10th with a one-out solo home run--his sixth home run--before a crowd of 48,120 at Coors Field.

Antonio Osuna (3-0) pitched two scoreless innings to earn the victory. With a runner on first and two out, he struck out Vinny Castilla swinging to close the game.

The Dodgers’ second victory in the four-game series moved them back to .500 at 36-36, which enabled Russell to breathe a little easier despite the problems and speculation swirling around him.

“We’ve won two big games here, and we rebounded and came back when we had to,” said Russell, whose team improved to 5-4 in extra-inning games.

“We’re obviously going to miss Ramon, and it’s going to be tough without him. But everyone else is just going to have to do their jobs and help to pick us up. That’s what happened tonight.”

Once again, Karros’ timing was impeccable.

He hit his fifth homer and drove in five runs in the Dodgers 5-0 victory in the series opener. He was hitless in four at-bats before facing Colorado closer Jerry Dipoto (2-3) in the 10th.

With one out, Karros homered to right-center on a 1-and-1 count. The homer was his 22nd against the Rockies--his most against an opponent.

“Karros is one of our big guys, and he came up there in the right situation,” Russell said. “He got a big home run for us, and that was exactly what we needed.”

Especially after Radinsky’s problems in the eighth. The left-hander has struggled recently and lost the full-time closer role.

On Friday, Radinsky relieved Greg McMichael with two out and runners on second and third. Right-handed hitter Greg Colbrunn then pinch hit for Todd Helton, who bats left-handed.

Colbrunn singled through the middle on a 1-and-2 count against Radinsky, tying the score, 3-3. Colbrunn’s single ended a 0-for-17 streak by Colorado pinch hitters. Colbrunn was the 21st batter to reach base among the last 39 Radinsky has faced.

McMichael and Radinsky combined to waste another strong performance by Darren Dreifort. The first-year starter gave up four hits and one run in seven innings, and he shut out the Rockies after giving up a two-out run-scoring single by Ellis Burks in the first.

Dreifort struck out four and walked three while throwing 111 pitches, 70 strikes. He left the game with a 2-1 lead on Gary Sheffield’s two-out two-run homer--his 11th home run--in the third. Sheffield was ejected in the seventh by home plate umpire Eric Gregg for arguing balls and strikes.

“Radinsky obviously threw a bad pitch and we lost the lead, but we battled back,” Russell said. “So that was a positive sign, and I’ve seen a lot of good things going on here.”

The Dodgers have responded after their demoralizing loss to the National League West-leading San Diego Padres on Wednesday, and the loss of Martinez for the season. While his bosses are watching closely, Russell has pushed the right buttons against the Rockies.