Karros Again Comes Through as Big Plus

Dodger first baseman Eric Karros probably won’t hit 30 home runs this season, or drive in 100 runs.

But Karros’ contribution is as important as ever to the Dodgers. His presence has helped the club hover around the .500 mark throughout their turbulent season.

That might not seem significant, but the Dodgers are searching for anything positive at this point. And Karros’ performance has been a plus.

“E.K. has been great,” Dodger Manager Glenn Hoffman said. “We’ve seen him get stronger and stronger each day, and he’s really come on to do a lot with that leg.

“You look at what he’s done after what he came back from, and you’ve got to be impressed. It hasn’t been easy for him, but you see what type of competitor he is.”

Karros underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee during spring training and missed the first 21 games. Despite constant pain, he has played in 119 of 122 games since coming off the disabled list, starting the last 87.

He went two for five with a run-scoring single in a 6-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Saturday at Dodger Stadium, and is batting .287 with 21 homers and 80 run batted in.

Last season, Karros became the first Dodger first baseman to hit at least 30 homers with 100 RBIs in three consecutive seasons since Gil Hodges accomplished the feat in five successive seasons from 1950-54.

“How many guys do you think would have even done the amount of work he did to get back as fast as he did?” said interim General Manager Tom Lasorda of Karros, whom he managed for four-plus seasons. “Look at what he’s done [despite] that knee. Some people might be surprised, but I’m not because no one works harder than he does.”

It’s likely that Karros would have had his fourth straight 30-100 season if he hadn’t been forced to sit out most of April. But Karros isn’t concerned about his statistics. He’s disappointed about the Dodgers’ season.

“From an individual standpoint, you obviously want to contribute, but that’s not what you focus on now,” Karros said. “When you look at the season we’ve had, you can’t get excited about individual accomplishments. At least I know I can’t.”

*

The Giants’ Barry Bonds struck out in his first at-bat Saturday against Chan Ho Park, ending his streak of reaching base in consecutive plate appearances at 15. Bonds holds the National League record, which is one behind the major league mark established by Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox in 1957.

*

Outfielder Raul Mondesi didn’t play Saturday because of recurring back stiffness. Mondesi, who was forced to leave in the fifth inning of Friday’s game because of back pain, is listed as day to day. . . . Outfielder Matt Luke didn’t play because he experienced flu-like symptoms before the game. . . Catcher Angel Pena was called up from double-A San Antonio.

TODAY

DODGERS’ BRIAN BOHANON

(6-8, 2.71 ERA)

vs.

GIANTS’ MARK GARDNER

(11-5, 4.76 ERA)

Site--Dodger Stadium 5 p.m.

TV--Fox Sports West2.

Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330)

* Update--Bohanon has been the Dodgers’ most consistent starter during the last two months. He has a 2.35 ERA in 10 starts with the team, but is only 4-4 during that span.