Dodgers Discover a Park They Like

Now that’s how to play at Coors Field.

The Dodgers finally made the most of their experience in the offense-friendly ballpark, pounding 12 hits--two of them solo home runs by Eric Karros--against five Colorado pitchers Thursday afternoon in an 11-8 victory.

They took a 5-0 lead in the first inning en route to scoring as many runs as they had combined in losing the first three games of the series. Karros went three for five and hit multiple homers--Nos. 15 and 16--for the second time this season and 12th time in his career.

In the process, the first baseman became the all-time opponent leader in homers at Coors Field with 15 in 26 games.

“I’ve said all along that I love to hit here,” said Karros, batting .360 with 36 runs batted in at Coors Field. “Not just home runs, but generally, because the outfield is so big. If you don’t strike out here, you’re going to be in business. That’s not a knock, it’s just reality.”

Shortstop Mark Grudzielanek also had a big game for the Dodgers (36-47), who are in last place, three games behind fourth-place Colorado in the National League West. Grudzielanek, playing in his third game since returning from the disabled list Tuesday, went three for four with two doubles and three RBIs.

Grudzielanek provided the big hit in the five-run first, clearing the bases with a two-out, three-run double against Colorado starter Brian Bohanon (9-7). The former Dodger left-hander was chased after only two-thirds of an inning in the second-shortest outing of his career.

“What was a good sign today is that we kept scoring throughout the game,” Grudzielanek said. “Usually, we get a club where we jump up, 5-0, and we sit down and relax and go through the motions.

“Today, we were out there getting runners on every inning. We were putting pressure on the defense, and that’s what we’ve got to do more often.”

Moreover, the Dodgers withstood the Rockies’ counterpunch. They overcame another home run barrage against starter Chan Ho Park before a crowd of 42,024 on an overcast and rainy day.

The Rockies hit three solo homers off Park (5-7) in his five-inning outing. But for a change, the Dodgers kept pushing offensively.

Park received help from four relievers, who succeeded in the usually difficult assignment of preserving leads in this launching pad, and the struggling young right-hander ended his personal losing streak at four games.

Closer Jeff Shaw completed only the second win in the Dodgers’ last 11 games by pitching a scoreless ninth. Shaw earned his 19th save and the Dodgers avoided being swept.

That might not seem like much, but the Dodgers are searching for anything positive at this point.

“I guess we can go home happy now,” Manager Davey Johnson said. “We had a great first inning and we got out in front. It was nice to see us score some runs. I’ve been expecting to see it every game here, but I haven’t seen it until today.

“But the big story was the way Chan Ho battled. It’s tough to pitch here, and he ran into some rough spots, but he really gave us a great effort. He . . . reached down and gave us something extra. That’s the Chan Ho I’m talking about.”

Of course, Park gave up 10 hits and seven earned runs as his earned-run average climbed to 6.52.

Park’s perplexing performance has been arguably the biggest disappointment among many for the Dodgers this season. And the No. 2 starter acknowledges he often feels lost on the mound.

On Thursday, Larry Walker, Terry Shumpert and Todd Helton homered against Park, who has given up a team-high 23 homers in only 96 2/3 innings.

“I’m still learning a lot,” said Park, who drove in two runs himself with a single and a sacrifice fly. “I have to keep working hard to get [tougher] mentally. Finally, I can sleep [well] tonight because we won.”

For Park and the Dodgers, neither has occurred enough lately.