Dusty Is in Dodger Eyes

The San Francisco Giants are making their first appearance this season at Dodger Stadium in a series that might help determine the National League West division title.

And next season’s Dodger manager.

The Dodgers will pursue Giant Manager Dusty Baker unless the club qualifies for the playoffs, baseball sources said, making life more difficult for Davey Johnson.

Johnson is under contract next season and doesn’t plan to retire, but he might lose his job to his longtime friend. Or someone else.

The situation adds to a difficult season for Johnson, although it got a little easier Friday night in a 6-5 series-opening victory highlighted by Eric Karros’ eighth-inning, go-ahead, three-run home run.

The Dodgers trailed, 5-3, with one out and runners on the corners. Karros worked a 3-1 count against reliever Felix Rodriguez (3-1), who got Gary Sheffield on an infield popup after the Dodgers chased Giant starter Shawn Estes in the inning.

Karros blasted a high fastball from Rodriguez into the left-field pavilion to give the Dodgers the lead, and his 26th home run ignited a wild towel-waving celebration from a sellout crowd of 53,563 given the promotional items.

Fans put the towels to more use in the top of the ninth when Jeff Shaw pitched a perfect inning to cap the club’s third victory in a row.

Shaw struck out pinch-hitter Felipe Crespo swinging for his team-leading 14th save, and Matt Herges (7-0) remained undefeated despite giving up Barry Bonds’ 32nd homer after relieving starter Carlos Perez. Sheffield leads the major leagues with 33.

San Francisco scored four runs in the sixth to take a 4-3 lead against Perez, the only glitch for the left-hander in seven innings. Perez also had his second career triple, driving in two runs in the Dodgers’ three-run second.

Karros delivered in a key situation, Perez provided innings, Shaw was perfect and the Dodgers (50-45) have won five of six. The second-place Giants (52-42) dropped 2 1/2 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Score the first round for Johnson.

“It was a great effort by E.K.,” Johnson said. “That was about a 99-mph fastball. He really smoked it.”

Baker was impressed too.

“We thought we were in pretty good shape after we got Sheffield,” Baker said. “But Karros is a dangerous hitter, especially in the clutch. He’s been a thorn in our side.”

Dodger officials believe they can persuade Baker to return to Chavez Ravine, though tampering rules prevent them from commenting about the former popular player.

The Giants are aware of the Dodgers’ strong interest in Baker, a two-time manager of the year who led them to the ’97 division championship. Baker, whose contract expires after the season, acknowledged he’s also aware.

“I’ve heard that, [but] I don’t have any reaction,” Baker said. “I’m under contract where I am.

“My reaction is we’re going to try to win this pennant here, with the Giants. It’s flattering, but hey man, I don’t really have any thought about it. Really.”

Baker is making about $800,000 this season. The Giants have offered him a two-year extension believed to be worth about $1.4-million annually.

Why hasn’t he signed?

“They offered me a contract, and I didn’t accept it or reject it,” Baker said. “I just said, ‘Look, let’s wait.’ Right now, I’m going to put all my efforts into winning. I’m going to practice what I preach to my players.

“Don’t worry about the contract, don’t worry about the money. Do the job and the money will follow. It’s like ‘Field of Dreams’: Build it and they will come. Win and the money will follow.”

Dodger officials are committed to Johnson, who makes $1.5 million this year and next, for the remainder of the season, but Chairman Bob Daly and General Manager Kevin Malone have openly expressed frustration about the club’s performance.

“Davey is a fine manager,” said Baker, Johnson’s teammate with the Atlanta Braves and his off-season fishing buddy. “I don’t know what’s happening here with Davey, or hasn’t happened here.

“All I know is that I have enough stuff to worry about over here.”

*

ANGELS: 12

OAKLAND: 3

Anaheim piles up 16 hits, four by Palmeiro, and Washburn goes a solid six innings in Oakland.

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