Sign of Victory: Several Players Make Key Contributions on Offense

Pitcher Kevin Brown expectedly comes to mind when one thinks of the Dodgers because he is the highest-paid player in baseball.

But the Dodgers insist they are not a one-man show, and many players had key roles in an 8-6 opening-day victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Raul Mondesi went four-for-five, matched his career high with six runs batted in and won the game in the 11th with a two-out, two-run homer. Gary Sheffield doubled and scored twice, including ahead of Mondesi in the 11th after walking on a full count with two out against loser John Frascatore.

Devon White hit a solo homer against Diamondback ace Randy Johnson and played flawlessly in center, and leadoff batter Eric Young stirred things at the top of the lineup throughout. Young got on base four times in six plate appearances and stole two bases.

“Believe me, this whole year isn’t going to be a one-man show,” said Young, who singled, walked twice and was hit by a pitch by Johnson. “We’ve got some talented players in their own right who can carry this team.

“You saw what happened, K.B. wasn’t on his game but we just kept coming and coming. We picked him up, and that’s what we’re going to keep on doing for each other. That’s what a team is supposed to be about.”

Eric Karros said this edition of the Dodgers has the talent to make that happen, whereas others have not.

“What separates this club from others in the past is that, in the past, we really relied on a handful of guys,” said Karros, who had a run-scoring single in the eighth. “This year, we have a lot of proven guys who can make the big play, get the big pitch or hit, at any time.

“One day it’s going to be Mondy, one day it’s going to be Sheff, one day it’s going to be Devo. There are just so many guys here who can fill that role, and we haven’t really had that in the past.”

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During spring training, Mondesi told Manager Davey Johnson he wanted to bat third or fourth because he would have more opportunities to drive in runs in those spots.

Johnson obliged, giving Mondesi what he wanted. Mondesi’s teammates believe the move will continue to pay off.

“Mondy is exactly the same type of player as Sammy Sosa, he just swings at bad pitches,” Sheffield said. “He’s on every pitch right now, and he has the power to hit 60, 70 homers too.”

Mondesi batted only .224 with runners in scoring position last season, and .190 with two out. But Sheffield believes Mondesi will be much more selective at the plate this season.

“You can see it in his approach up there, the way he’s going about his business,” Sheffield said. “Mondy knows how good he can be.”

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Catcher Todd Hundley had a rough time in his Dodger debut, striking out four times against Arizona’s Johnson.

“You can’t hit what you can’t see,” said Hundley, who singled in the 10th against Frascatore. “I told [home-plate umpire] Bruce [Froemming] I couldn’t see the ball, I was just listening for it hit the glove.

“It was the first time I faced him [Johnson], and I didn’t know what to look for. You’re going to have those days, that’s the way baseball goes, I just don’t like to have those days on opening day.”