Grudzielanek’s Home Run Beats Rockies in 10th Inning

Mark Grudzielanek’s two-out, solo home run in the 10th inning Friday night gave the Dodgers a 4-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies before 33,009 at Dodger Stadium.

Grudzielanek hit his seventh homer over the left-field wall against Colorado reliever Mike De Jean (4-4), ending the Dodgers’ losing streak at three games. Grudzielanek grounded out to leave the bases loaded in the seventh.

Rookie reliever Matt Herges (10-3) pitched a scoreless 10th for the Dodgers (76-72), who are fourth in the National League West.

The third-place Rockies (76-71) had won three in a row. They did not have a hit after the sixth.

The Dodgers tied the score, 3-3, in the seventh on Alex Cora’s two-run double.

Cora’s second double just inside the right-field line against Kevin Jarvis drove in Todd Hundley and Adrian Beltre.

The Rockies took a 1-0 lead in the first on Neifi Perez’s ninth home run. On a 2-2 count, Perez homered to right against starter Darren Dreifort.

Cora’s run-scoring double in the fifth tied the score, 1-1.

Beltre walked and scored on Cora’s first double to right. Cora was thrown out trying for a triple.

Colorado went ahead, 3-1, in the sixth on Todd Helton’s 35th homer. After Jeff Cirillo led off with a double, Helton hit a two-run blast to left.

Dreifort’s work ended after six innings.

The right-hander gave up five hits and three runs in his fourth no-decision in six starts. Dreifort struck out seven and walked three--one intentional--while throwing 65 strikes in 105 pitches.

Cora’s second double got Dreifort off the hook.

Colorado starter Pedro Astacio, who pitched three scoreless innings, left because of a strained oblique muscle. The former Dodger is listed as day-to-day.

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Utility player Jim Leyritz has decided to undergo surgery on his torn right rotator cuff.

Leyritz, who hopes to have the procedure done Thursday, considered pinch-hitting the rest of the season after an MRI exam revealed the tear in his throwing shoulder.

Leyritz can become a free agent after the season.

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As expected, the Dodgers announced that the Las Vegas Stars have signed an agreement to become their triple-A affiliate in 2001, replacing Albuquerque.

The Stars had been the San Diego Padres’ top farm club for 18 years.

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Class-A San Bernardino swept Visalia in three games to win the California League championship.

The Stampede has won consecutive championships.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

ERIC GAGNE

(2-6, 5.44 ERA)

vs.

ROCKIES’

JULIAN TAVAREZ

(10-3, 4.21 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7 p.m.

TV--Channel 5. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

* Update--Gagne pitched six scoreless innings in Monday’s 6-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. The rookie right-hander was pressed into service because Ismael Valdes suffered an injury and was scratched from the start. Gagne gave up one hit and struck out seven with four walks. He pitched 4 1/3 innings and got a no-decision July 27 in the Dodgers’ 16-11 victory over the Rockies at Coors Field. Tavarez is 2-0 with a 2.28 ERA in 20 relief appearances against the Dodgers.