Park Gets 16th Victory, Stops Diamondbacks, 1-0

Mark Grudzielanek’s two-out, eighth-inning, run-scoring single helped Dodger starter Chan Ho Park get his 16th victory Tuesday night in a 1-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks before 29,753 at Dodger Stadium.

Grudzielanek singled between second and first off Diamondback starter Brian Anderson (10-6) to drive in Tom Goodwin, who singled and stole second, from second base with the go-ahead run.

Closer Jeff Shaw did his part, retiring the Diamondbacks in order in the ninth to get his 26th save and complete the Dodgers’ fifth victory in a row.

Park (16-10) pitched eight scoreless innings to establish a personal best in victories while lowering his earned-run average from 3.67 to 3.53. The right-hander gave up six hits and struck out eight, matching his career high at 191.

Left fielder Bruce Aven helped Park keep the game scoreless in the sixth, robbing Jay Bell of a leadoff home run with a leaping catch at the wall.

Aven also had two hits in his first game after missing 21 because of a strained oblique muscle.

The third-place Dodgers (80-72) moved within a half-game of the second-place Diamondbacks (79-70), who have dropped four consecutive games, in the National League West.

The Dodgers are 5 1/2 games behind the New York Mets in the wild-card race with 10 games remaining.

“Chan Ho was outstanding,” Manager Davey Johnson said. “He got into a little jam in the eighth inning, but I wasn’t even worried. I knew he would rise to the occasion.”

Bell singled to right-center to start the eighth and advanced to third on Greg Colbrunn’s one-out single to right with Steve Finley on deck.

Finley, who leads the Diamondbacks with 35 home runs, struck out swinging, and Matt Williams also struck out swinging to end the threat.

Goodwin singled to center with two out in the Dodgers’ half of the inning, got his 50th stolen base and scored on Grudzielanek’s timely hit.

Shaw converted his 14th straight save opportunity.

“To come in behind Chan Ho and slam the door is really sweet because he’s been working real hard for that 16th win,” Shaw said. “He’s a lot better than last year. He’s more mentally tough than last year.”

*

Gary Sheffield, sidelined recently because of back stiffness, has a lumbar strain, a club spokesman said.

Sheffield was examined by team physician Jae Chon before sitting out Tuesday’s game. Sheffield has begun an exercise program to stretch his back.

He is listed as day-to-day.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ DARREN DREIFORT

(11-8, 4.53 ERA)

vs.

DIAMONDBACKS’ RANDY JOHNSON

(18-6, 2.38 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7.

TV--Fox Sports Net 2.

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

* Update--Dreifort had a no-decision in Friday’s 4-3, 10-inning victory over the Colorado Rockies. The right-hander, who gave up three runs in six innings, is 7-1 with four no-decisions in his last 12 starts. Johnson appears to be on the verge of winning his third Cy Young Award, and second in a row. The left-hander--who leads the majors with 326 strikeouts--is either first or second in the league in most categories.