Deep Impact for Dodgers

The Dodgers hope to perform better in the second half of their schedule after failing to meet expectations in their first 81 games.

They’re off to a good start after hitting four home runs Wednesday night in rallying for a 7-5 victory over the San Diego Padres at Qualcomm Stadium.

The Dodgers overcame another poor outing by starter Darren Dreifort and a 5-0 deficit before 27,002.

Dreifort and Mark Grudzielanek hit solo homers in the fifth, Todd Hundley a tying three-run blast in the sixth and Eric Karros capped the scoring with a two-run shot in the eighth.

Antonio Osuna, Terry Adams and Mike Fetters combined to work four scoreless innings in relief of Dreifort.

Osuna (1-4) gave up the group’s only hit and Fetters retired the side in order in the ninth for his second save. The Dodgers (42-40) ended their latest losing streak at three games and improved to 2-3 on the trip.

It’s not much--but it’s a start.

“We know this club is capable of doing a lot as long as everybody just does their jobs,” left fielder Gary Sheffield said. “We’ve got a lot of guys who can contribute big things at the right time.”

Karros and Hundley filled the roles Wednesday.

After Shawn Green led off the eighth with a single, Karros hit his 24th homer against Matt Whiteside (2-2) to give the Dodgers the lead. Hundley had hit his 16th homer against Carlos Reyes to pull the Dodgers even.

“The big hit for us tonight was Hundley’s,” Karros said. “It tied the ballgame and provided an opportunity for us to win,” Karros said. “He has to be in the lineup every day. Nothing against Chad Kreuter, but he can change the game with one swing.”

Nothing changed for Dreifort, who hasn’t won since June 7 and struggled again Wednesday.

The right-hander gave up 10 hits--including a solo homer--and five earned runs in five innings.

“I know he didn’t walk many [one], but his command was not real sharp in the strike zone,” Manager Davey Johnson said of Dreifort.

The Padres staked starter Brian Tollberg to a 3-0 lead in the first. After singles by Al Martin and Kory DeHaan, Ryan Klesko doubled down the right-field line to drive them in. Klesko advanced to third on Phil Nevin’s groundout and stole home on a double steal.

DeHaan had a run-scoring single in the second and hit his first career homer in the fourth against Dreifort. The Dodgers trailed, 5-0, and Dreifort was in jams in every inning.

But the Dodgers kept going, and Dreifort helped with his bat.

With one out in the fifth, he homered to left against Tollberg. The blast estimated at 407 feet was the third homer of Dreifort’s career. Grudzielanek hit a solo shot with two out, cutting the Padres’ lead to 5-2.

Then Hundley and Karros came through.

“EK’s been getting a lot of big hits this year, and Hundley got the big one tonight,” Johnson said.

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Two Stars, One Barred

Sheffield and Brown named to the National League All-Star team. Kreuter drops his appeal and begins serving an eight-game suspension for going into stands at Wrigley Field. Page 8