Dodgers Hitting Wall on Offense

The Dodgers are finally getting the quality starting pitching they envisioned before the season began.

Unfortunately for the Dodgers, they still have many other problems.

Chan Ho Park provided the team’s fourth consecutive strong start, but the San Diego Padres got a better outing from Sterling Hitchcock in their 4-1 victory Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium.

Park (4-5) gave up only five hits and three runs in seven innings during the series opener. Hitchcock (5-6) limited the Dodgers to one run while striking out seven in 6 2/3 innings before a crowd of 37,366.

Trailing, 3-1, in the seventh, the Dodgers (32-36) had the potential go-ahead run at the plate against Padre reliever Will Cunnane, who relieved Hitchcock with two out and runners on the corners.

Cunnane quickly worked an 0-and-2 count against Adrian Beltre, who grounded out. The Padres scored another run in the eighth against reliever Mike Maddux to take a 4-1 lead.

Cunnane worked a scoreless eighth and San Diego Manager Bruce Bochy turned to all-star closer Trevor Hoffman to finish.

Jose Vizcaino hit into a double play after Eric Karros singled against Hoffman to begin the ninth, and pinch hitter Dave Hansen walked. Pinch-hitter Todd Hollandsworth struck out swinging to end another wasted game for the disappointing Dodgers.

Hoffman earned his 16th save and the Padres (29-38) won their season-high fourth in a row. The Padres are in last place in the National League West--but they’re gaining on the fourth-place Dodgers.

“Chan Ho threw the ball well, we didn’t give him any run support,” Dodger Manager Davey Johnson said. “We’re swinging at bad pitches, we’ve got to be perfect. I know we’re better than what we’ve been showing.”

In their last four games, Dodger starters have given up only eight earned runs in 34 innings. But the Dodgers are 2-2 despite a 2.12 earned-run average during that span.

Now, the offense simply isn’t producing enough.

“You can’t blame your team when you’re not getting enough run support,” Park said. “I still believe in my team 100%.”

Leading, 2-1, in the seventh, San Diego added an insurance run on a sacrifice fly by Damian Jackson. Park had shut down the Padres after giving up a two-run homer to Ruben Rivera--his 11th homer--in the second.

Dave Magadan singled to start the seventh and advanced to third on Rivera’s one-out double down the left-field line. Magadan scored easily from third on Jackson’s fly ball to deep center, giving the Padres a 3-1 advantage.

The Padres took a 2-0 lead on Rivera’s two-out shot to left in the second. The Dodgers cut the lead to 2-1 on a run-scoring grounder by Devon White in their half of the inning.

Raul Mondesi opened the inning with a triple to center, thanks to some help from Rivera. Mondesi hit a sinking liner to medium left-center that the Padre center fielder misplayed, allowing the ball to roll to the wall.

Mondesi scored from third on White’s groundout to the right side of the infield.

Park settled down after the second.

He gave up only one hit in the next four innings. Park also hit two batters with pitches, but the Dodgers turned a double play to help Park.

Park retained his composure after hitting Reggie Sanders to lead off the fourth and Jim Leyritz to open the fifth. Leyritz, the Padre catcher, was removed after being hit on his left hand. X-rays revealed he suffered a fracture.

In the sixth, Park retired the side in order after Padre leadoff batter Quilvio Veras singled to start the inning. Park was in a groove--but then came the seventh.

Despite pitching well, Park was hurt by a homer again.

With two out in the second, Leyritz singled. On a full count, Rivera hit the 17th homer against Park this season.

Park is tied for the team lead in homers allowed with Ismael Valdes. Park has matched a major league record by giving up four grand slams this season, including two in one inning.

“I don’t know,” Park said. “I just try to throw my best pitches. I just have to keep trying harder to get better.”

* ENERGY SHORTAGE: Chris Erskine went to Dodger Stadium with a feng shui expert, who says the Dodgers are hexed. E1