Good Thing Karros Stayed Healthy

The Dodgers rallied Saturday afternoon for a 6-5, 10-inning victory over the New York Mets at Shea Stadium in a game overshadowed by injuries.

Trailing, 5-1, beginning the ninth, the Dodgers scored four runs against New York setup man John Franco. The former closer gave up a solo home run to Eric Karros, and Devon White hit a two-out, three-run, game-tying homer before a stunned crowd of 37,814.

Karros’ second solo homer in the 10th--a two-out shot against closer Armando Benitez--gave the Dodgers the lead. Closer Jeff Shaw preserved it, pitching a perfect 10th to earn his first save and end a three-game losing streak.

However, the Dodgers lost starter Kevin Brown, outfielder Gary Sheffield and reliever Gregg Olson because of injuries. And reliever Mike Fetters, who pitched a scoreless ninth for the victory, is listed as day-to-day after aggravating a left quadriceps muscle injury.

“It was a great game, there were a lot of big hits, but losing Brownie was a terrific loss,” Manager Davey Johnson said of Brown, who suffered a fractured right pinkie after being hit on his throwing hand while trying to bunt.

“Sheff has a high ankle sprain, and that’s bad, and [Olson] has that [right] forearm thing. Like I said, it was at a terrific price.”

Brown worked five innings on the windy day, giving up six hits--including two homers--and three runs. Jay Payton hit a solo homer in the second, and Edgardo Alfonzo had a two-run shot in the third.

The Mets added two runs in the eighth against Olson, giving Franco a 5-1 cushion. It wasn’t enough for the left-hander.

Karros homered to start the inning and things quickly got worse for Franco. With one out, Franco walked Chad Kreuter, and Kevin Elster singled to put runners on first and second.

Franco retired pinch-hitter Jose Vizcaino, before White crushed the first pitch, sending the ball over the wall in right to tie the score.

“I was just looking for something to drive,” White said. “It’s one of those things where I got one and drove it.”

Mark Grudzielanek grounded out to end the inning, and then New Yorkers booed Franco for several minutes.

“I was [bad],” he said. “Everybody else was good, there’s no way around it.”

Benitez had problems too. Karros crushed Benitez’s 2-2 fastball, sending the ball well over the wall in left-center.

“He’s going to challenge you,” Karros said of Benitez. “He got me last night, and today it was my turn.”

New York Manager Bobby Valentine was reluctant to use Benitez after he worked 1 1/3 innings in closing Friday’s 2-1 victory over the Dodgers. Valentine had Benitez warming up with two out in the ninth, but Benitez said he wasn’t ready to face White.

“It was John’s ninth inning whether it was a one-run game or a four-run game,” Valentine said. “He just didn’t have enough.”

TODAY

DODGERS’

CHAN HO

PARK

(1-0, 4.50 ERA)

vs.

METS’

GLENDON

RUSCH

(0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Shea Stadium, 10 a.m. PDT.

TV--Channel 5. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

* Update--Despite Park’s opening-start victory, the Dodgers are concerned about him. The emotional right-hander worked six innings in a 10-4 victory over the Montreal Expos, giving up six hits and four runs (three earned). The Dodgers are eager for Park to take command in games, something he rarely does. The Mets acquired Rusch from the Kansas City Royals last season. The left-hander spent most of last season on the disabled list and in the minor leagues because of tendinitis in his throwing shoulder.