Konerko First Learns How to Play in a Pinch

In his first start at first base Monday, the Dodgers’ possible first baseman of the future wasn’t spectacular, but solid.

Paul Konerko cleanly handled every play at first and collected a run-scoring single and drew a walk in three at-bats in the Dodgers’ 13-5 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Konerko was patient on his walk and single against pitchers Steve Ontiveros and Mike Busby but swung at the first pitch on fly-outs against Busby and Kent Bottenfield.

He said this was by design, to help prepare him for his probable opening-day role as a pinch-hitter.

“If you want to be a pinch-hitter, you have to go up there hacking,” he said. “I want to show [the Dodgers] that I can do what it takes to stay here.”

Some had guessed that Konerko would rotate with Eric Karros at first base during the spring to prepare the team for a possible trade of Karros, but now it appears Konerko is being prepared only for the bench.

Monday marked the first time this spring he had worked extensively at first. He has spent most of his time at third base and in the outfield.

“He put up great numbers at Albuquerque, but everybody puts up great numbers at Albuquerque,” Manager Bill Russell said. “He has to do it here.”

Said Konerko, who has two singles in six spring at-bats: “I just don’t want to get sent back and will do anything to stay here.”

*

Todd Hollandsworth was a late scratch in left field because of tenderness in his left elbow. Although a broken right elbow caused him to miss time last season, any injury to his left elbow is a problem because that is his throwing elbow. The Dodgers will keep an eye on it.

Billy Ashley struck out in both of his at-bats Monday, giving him six strikeouts in seven times up this spring. It seems ages ago that Ashley beat the St. Louis Cardinals with a pinch-homer during the 1996 pennant stretch. He is not expected to be on the opening-day roster.

The biggest disappointment in Monday’s loss was highly touted pitching prospect Mike Judd, who struck out 169 and walked 72 last year in Class A and double-A. In 1 1/3 innings in his spring debut, Judd walked five and gave up four earned runs on two hits, pitching tentatively in high winds. A bright spot was reliever Darren Hall, who didn’t allow a run in the ninth inning and has pitched two scoreless innings. Hall, who had a career-best season with the Dodgers in 1997, is expected to be the right-handed middle relief pitcher.