Padres Blinded by White, 7-3

Devon White may have lost a little something during his long major league career. Most do.

Of course, the San Diego Padres probably wouldn’t agree after White’s three-run, pinch-hit home run in the sixth inning lifted the Dodgers to a 7-3 victory Saturday night at Qualcomm Stadium.

Hitting for starter Chan Ho Park, the Dodger center fielder blasted the first pinch-hit homer in his 13 seasons, helping the Dodgers win the second game in the three-game series after dropping the opener. White wasn’t in the starting lineup Saturday because Manager Davey Johnson gave him time off with a day game today.

Gary Sheffield continued his hot hitting with two homers and three runs batted in, marking the 12th multi-homer game of his career. After the Padres had fun at the expense of Kevin Brown, a former Padre, on Friday, the Dodger show disappointed a crowd of 56,568.

Park (1-1) earned the victory despite being in constant trouble against the Padres. Reliever Antonio Osuna, activated on the disabled list Friday, pitched a scoreless sixth in his first appearance of the season.

Pedro Borbon followed with two scoreless innings and closer Jeff Shaw pitched a scoreless ninth to nail down the victory. But White’s blast saved the day for Park and the Dodgers.

The score was tied, 3-3, in the sixth. The Dodgers had runners on second and third with two out when Johnson turned to the veteran.

On a 2-and-1 count against reliever Carlos Reyes (0-1), White homered to right-center to give the Dodgers a 6-3 lead. White’s big hit stirred excitement in the Dodger dugout, and the crowd suddenly stopped having fun.

“It felt good,” White said. “The main thing is to get us on top and to get the win. We have been pretty flat on this road trip. We haven’t been doing the job. We just have to take wins when we can get them, like this.”

White’s blast made Park feel better after his mediocre outing.

“That made me feel good,” Park said. “That helped me win the game and I really appreciate that.” Park gave up three runs, all in the fifth, and eight hits. Park struck out six and walked two while throwing 90 pitches, including 51 strikes.

More is expected of Park, and he knows it.

Trailing, 3-0, in the fifth, the Padres rallied to tie the score on run-scoring singles by Quilvio Veras and Wally Joyner, and a run-scoring double by Tony Gwynn. Then came White’s pinch-hit shot.

Padre starter Andy Ashby shut down the Dodgers in the series opener Friday, tossing a five-hitter in a 3-0 victory. The Dodgers fared better against starter Sterling Hitchcock on Saturday, getting to the left-hander early.

With two out in the first and runners on first and second, Eric Karros singled to drive in Mark Grudzielanek and give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. Karros’ 10-game hitting streak ended Friday, but the veteran slugger continues his strong start.

San Diego Manager Bruce Bochy removed Hitchcock for a pinch-hitter during the Padres’ three-run fifth. Hitchcock gave up four hits--including Sheffield’s first homer--and three runs.

He struck out six and walked three while throwing 91 pitches, 52 for strikes.

Then the Dodgers staked Park to a 3-0 lead in the third on Sheffield’s first homer. Sheffield has hit four homers in six games on the trip.

With one out, Grudzielanek singled for the second time in as many at-bats with Sheffield on deck. On a full count against Hitchcock, Sheffield blasted a two-run homer to straightaway center.

Sheffield said he’s still not fully recovered from off-season surgery on his throwing shoulder, but one can’t tell the way he has been producing.

“I know when my shoulder feels totally right, and it’s not really there yet,” Sheffield, who has five homers this season, said.

“This is something I’ve never been through, so I can’t say when it’s going to feel 100% again. I’m just doing my rehab to try to keep getting it stronger and stronger.

“But it feels pretty good right now. I feel like I can go out there and swing like I need to, so that’s coming along.”

And the Dodgers may be too.

BASEBALL

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