There’s Little Left for Dodgers

Day 2 of the Randy Johnson Watch came and went Friday, and the all-star pitcher wasn’t any closer to joining the Dodgers.

Or another team, for that matter.

With Seattle General Manager Woody Woodward fielding offers from throughout the major leagues, the Dodgers were put on hold in their attempt to acquire the left-hander.

The Mariners still want Darren Dreifort and a prospect, and the Dodgers are still refusing to meet that price, sources said. The Dodgers denied television reports Friday night that a deal involving pitcher Hideo Nomo and outfielder Roger Cedeno had been completed.

And although the mood understandably remained tense at Dodger Stadium a day after word of trade talks emerged, things weren’t as frantic. Oh, and the Dodgers also played an extra-inning game.

The Cincinnati Reds scored four runs with two out in the 12th inning against reliever Dennis Reyes to defeat the Dodgers, 8-4, before 41,479. Barry Larkin’s triple knocked in the go-ahead run against Reyes (0-1). Stan Belinda pitched a 1-2-3 12th for the Reds.

Chan Ho Park was effective for the first time in three starts, giving up six hits and two runs in eight innings. It appeared Park would win for the first time since May 13 when closer Scott Radinsky relieved him in the ninth with the Dodgers ahead, 4-2.

But Radinsky gave up two runs on four two-out hits that tied the score, 4-4, and the Dodgers stranded runners at first and second in the bottom of the inning when Eric Young grounded out.

Raul Mondesi’s leadoff home run in the seventh inning, his 13th homer, had given the Dodgers the lead.

The loss was the bad news for the Dodgers. But their disposition will change today if they add Johnson to their starting rotation.

“The key point is that we do continue to have interest in Randy Johnson,” Fred Claire, executive vice president, said during Friday’s game. “But I don’t have a time frame, and I don’t really know if there is a time frame.

“I don’t know what else Seattle is hearing from other clubs, and I don’t know where they are in the whole process. This is not something we can control. But from our end, we still have interest, and we’ll proceed from there.”

Any chance of a deal occurring Friday night ended when Johnson started for the Mariners against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at St. Petersburg, Fla. He was dominant in a 6-2 victory, striking out 10 in eight innings.

Claire declined to discuss whether he spoke with Woodward on Friday, but sources said Claire phoned Woodward.

Woodward, by his own estimation, received between 50 and 75 phone calls Friday regarding Johnson. The San Diego Padres made an offer and were awaiting word on their proposal from Woodward, as were the New York Yankees, whose interest in Johnson has increased in the last two days.

“All I did was answer the phone and deny rumors,” Woodward said. “I have more important things to do with my time.”

Woodward was not pleased by Thursday’s events, when Claire confirmed they had ongoing talks about Johnson.

Claire’s comments contradicted statements made by Woodward, who denied he had spoken with Claire and that something was imminent with the Dodgers. As a result, Woodward said he’s inclined to stop commenting on the situation.

“I would like to be more forthcoming about this, but I’m tired of all this rumor and speculation that didn’t come from Seattle,” he said. “Therefore, there will be no further comment from me on this.”

Claire said he will limit his comments as well.

“I don’t think it helps us, or anyone else, to react to the rumors, because this has been very difficult for everybody,” he said. “Put yourself in the shoes of the Seattle club or Randy Johnson.

“We recognize that this is part of [the game], but we don’t want to add to that or perpetuate it.”

The situation isn’t easy for Dodger players and coaches either.

“There was a lot of stuff going on [Thursday], and it was distracting,” Manager Bill Russell said. “It’s not easy to deal with all of this, but you understand that this sort of thing will happen when you’re talking about a guy like Randy Johnson.”