Reserves Pump Up Dodgers

Dodger Manager Davey Johnson shuffled the lineup Wednesday night because nothing else had worked.

That did.

Reserves jump-started the struggling club in a 10-4 victory over the Florida Marlins before 11,855 at Pro Player Stadium.

The Dodgers received big contributions from F.P. Santangelo, Dave Hansen and Chad Kreuter.

Santangelo started at second base and had three hits, scored three runs and drove in another.

Third baseman Hansen had a two-run triple in a seven-run eighth, helping the Dodgers take command after trailing, 4-3, at the start of the inning.

Catcher Kreuter had two hits and drove in a run. Adrian Beltre thrived in an unfamiliar role, capping the six-hit inning with his first pinch-hit home run--a three-run shot to left field.

Jim Leyritz also played well at first base for Eric Karros, and pitcher Ismael Valdes helped.

Valdes volunteered to pitch after Chan Ho Park was scratched from his scheduled start because of flu-like symptoms.

He worked five strong innings in a no-decision, working for the third time in five days and impressing his teammates.

“We put some energy in the lineup,” Johnson said, smiling.

“We’ve been flat and we needed those guys. That’s the way it’s supposed to work.”

The Dodgers (61-58) salvaged one of the three games in the series and finished 2-4 on the trip.

They still have big problems that one victory won’t solve, but the backup unit at least made the trip home easier.

“When the regular guys are struggling, we need those guys to step up,” left fielder Gary Sheffield said. “Those guys have the toughest jobs because they usually have to come in and face closers.

“Any time you can get those guys three or four at-bats in a game it helps them, and it can also help us. Davey pulled the trigger tonight, and those guys showed what it’s all about.”

Especially in the eighth.

The Marlins (60-60) scored the go-ahead run in the seventh against reliever Terry Adams (5-4), who got the victory despite struggling for the third time in as many appearances.

The Marlins loaded the bases against Adams on two walks and an infield single, and scored a run on Kreuter’s passed ball.

But the Dodgers rallied for a change.

“It just really felt great to win and be a part of it,” said Santangelo, who was hit by a pitch in the eighth and scored on Hansen’s triple. “I wanted to do something to help, but all that really matters is getting the win.”

The Dodgers pounded relievers Dan Miceli (5-3) and Vic Darensbourg in the inning.

They also got a break when poor-fielding first baseman Kevin Millar misplayed pinch-hitter Todd Hundley’s run-scoring grounder.

With the bases loaded and one out, Hundley, batting for Leyritz, grounded to Millar for a potential inning-ending double play.

Millar had time to get only Hundley after the ball hit him in the glove and bounced out, and Tom Goodwin scored from third.

Then Hansen delivered a two-run triple down the right-field line, putting the Dodgers ahead, 6-4. Beltre hit his 12th home run, against Darensbourg, on a 1-and-2 count to close the scoring.

“It was good for us, and good for the regulars, for us to bring some energy to the lineup,” Hansen said. “It’s nothing personal, but guys needed some time off. Sometimes a change of pace is good.”

Kreuter agreed.

“We’re the scrappy guys who don’t get to play a lot, so it was great to get us all in there at once,” Kreuter said. “We all brought a little different approach [than regulars] tonight.

“We were going to scrap and claw and do everything we could to give this team a lift. That’s all anyone thought about.”