Park’s Performance Stirs Optimism

The Dodgers were still abuzz Sunday about the finest performance of Chan Ho Park’s career.

Park had a career-high 12 strikeouts and gave up only three hits in a dominating eight-inning outing in Saturday’s 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Park had losses in his previous two decisions, and the Dodgers had considered bumping him from the rotation if he continued to struggle. The young right-hander worked with confidence and purpose, making a strong statement with each pitch.

“His whole personality changed, and it was a wonderful thing to see,” Manager Davey Johnson said. “Occasionally, there are moments in this game where something special is kind of going on.

“It was like watching Dwight [Gooden] when he had things kind of working. That was fun to watch, and Chan Ho was fun to watch.”

For his teammates too.

“That was big for Chan Ho, but it was also big for the team,” said right-hander Darren Dreifort, who pitched a two-hitter in the series opener Friday. “Chan Ho pitches his butt off for eight innings and we win the game.

“He kept battling and he kept us right in there. You can’t do it much better than he did.”

Park was proud of his effort.

“I feel it was [my best performance], but you can’t think about that,” Park said. “I didn’t know I had 12 [strikeouts], I was just focused on the batters, especially [Mark] McGwire. It feels good.”

Command and pitch sequence were the keys.

Park controlled the Cardinals with sharp curveballs, changeups and an overpowering fastball.

“Chan Ho set up his fastball so well because of the movement on his curveball,” Johnson said. “I’m sure some of those hitters must have thought it [Park’s fastball] was coming in there at 150 [mph].”

Or faster.

“You really couldn’t see it,” said St. Louis left fielder Ray Lankford, who struck out swinging three times against Park. “The [curve] ball was just moving so much, and then the fastball got on you so quickly.”

Park has benefited from being teamed often with backup catcher Chad Kreuter. The 10-year veteran understands Park and calls games to the pitcher’s strengths, which isn’t as easy as it seems.

“Chan Ho is still going through the learning process, which is just part of this game and part of life,” Kreuter said. “We’re all going through it, and you will as long as you play.

“There are things I know now that I wish I would have known five, 10 years ago, but that’s how it works. Chan Ho is at that stage where he’s still finding out a lot about himself, and anyone can use some encouragement. But you can see he’s capable of big things.”

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Reliever Mike Fetters is expected to begin a throwing program this week to help the club determine whether to activate him from the disabled list Friday.

The right-hander went on the disabled list last Wednesday (retroactive to May 4) after an inflammation developed on his pitching elbow. Fetters said his elbow has been improving, but Johnson wants to see how he fares after throwing before making roster moves.

“He can throw now,” Johnson said. “But the thing is, is he at a point where he can throw every day? That’s what we need to find out.”

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Little-used Orel Hershiser has been throwing often in the bullpen in an effort to improve his command.

“He’s such a perfectionist,” Johnson said. “He keeps pushing it and pushing it, and he’s not satisfied unless everything is there.

“He and [pitching coach] Claude [Osteen] have really found something that makes sense. Another [bullpen session] or two, he should be OK.”