A Losing Battle for Park?

The Dodgers were disappointed with Chan Ho Park’s performance Monday in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 15-7 victory.

Park was chased after only 3 1/3 innings. He gave up nine hits and eight earned runs.

The right-hander has lost his last two decisions and his earned-run average has climbed to 5.72.

Despite Park’s problems recently, catcher Chad Kreuter said there have been positives.

“He’s been battling,” Kreuter said. “He pitched with a quarter-sized blister on his finger, and that’s not an easy thing to do.

“When you pitch with pain you lose your rhythm, and pitching is all about rhythm. He did that because he’s trying to help the team.

“He didn’t fold up his tent and go home. As far as where he’s at right now, he’s still learning, and that’s what this game is about.”

*

The Todd Hollandsworth situation has been shelved for now with Devon White on the disabled list but will be revisited if White returns this season.

General Manager Kevin Malone was prepared to trade Hollandsworth before White suffered a slightly torn left rotator cuff. White might need season-ending surgery.

“Todd just wants to have a chance to play and contribute regularly,” said Hollandsworth’s agent, Jeff Moorad. “That’s all he’s ever desired, and it just so happened Devon White’s injury opened the door for him to play more regularly now. We’ll just see what happens.”

*

Reliever Gregg Olson is expected to rejoin the Dodgers in St. Louis today after returning to Los Angeles to undergo tests on his injured right forearm.

Olson has been on the disabled list since April 11 because of what has been diagnosed as a right forearm strain. Team physicians are trying to determine why the right-hander’s injury hasn’t healed.

Olson experienced discomfort after his rehabilitation outing at Class-A San Bernardino, and the club has prohibited him from pitching until he’s pain-free.

ON DECK

* Opponent--St. Louis Cardinals, three games.

* Site--Busch Stadium.

* Tonight--5 PDT.

* TV--Fox Sports Net 2 tonight, Channel 5 on Saturday and Sunday.

* Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

* Records--Dodgers 17-16, Cardinals 20-14.

* Record vs. Cardinals (1999)--3-6.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

DARREN DREIFORT

(2-1, 3.31 ERA)

vs.

CARDINALS’

DARRYL KILE

(6-1, 4.54 ERA)

* Update--The Cardinals are in first place in the National League Central after undergoing an off-season make-over. Center fielder Jim Edmonds, acquired in a trade with the Angels, is batting .406 with 11 home runs and 28 runs batted in. Second baseman Fernando Vina, formerly with the Milwaukee Brewers, is batting .328 with 30 runs. Mark McGwire is still the main attraction. He’s batting .347 with 12 homers and 26 RBIs in only 72 at-bats. Dreifort is 1-2 with a 5.33 ERA in seven appearances against the Cardinals. Kile has struck out 39 in 41 2/3 innings.

* Saturday, 5 p.m. PDT--Chan Ho Park (3-3, 5.72) vs. Rick Ankiel (3-1, 3.25).

* Sunday, 11 a.m. PDT--Carlos Perez (3-1, 4.58) vs. Pat Hentgen (3-4, 5.44).