A Grand Finale for Park

Chan Ho Park finished with flair.

The right-hander capped his best season with his first career shutout Friday night and hit a home run to help the Dodgers establish two records in a 3-0 victory over the San Diego Padres before 40,382 at Qualcomm Stadium.

Park (18-10) gave up only two singles while striking out 13 and hitting a solo blast to right in the eighth--his second homer--off Padre starter Woody Williams (10-8) that marked the club’s record-setting 209th homer, one more than the Brooklyn Dodgers hit in 1956.

Gary Sheffield also hit his 43rd homer in the eighth--another solo shot--to tie the single-season franchise record that Hall of Famer Duke Snider set in 1956, and established a personal best. Sheffield also hit 42 homers in 1996 while with the Florida Marlins.

But Park got top billing again for the Dodgers (85-75) with his third dominant performance in as many starts.

“He was filthy,” Manager Davey Johnson said of Park, who threw 76 strikes in 116 pitches, walked only one and was in command from the outset. “That was as nasty a stuff as I’ve seen all year.

“He was determined and confident and just overmatched the hitters. And he hit that record-setting home run. That’s going to be an all-time trivia question.”

Park, second in the National League with 217 strikeouts, did his best work his arm.

“He’s a Cy Young-type pitcher now,” Sheffield said of Park, whose sharp work helped the teams complete the game in 2 hours 19 minutes. “You look at guys taking swings up there and he’s like John Smoltz [of the Atlanta Braves]. It’s like Whiffle ball.”

Catcher Chad Kreuter, whose tutelage has been key to Park’s performance, was more impressed than usual with the hard-thrower, whose fastball was clocked at 95 mph in the ninth.

“This probably was the best one because it’s No. 18,” said Kreuter, who has developed a strong bond with Park. “He also extended his scoreless-inning streak that he can carry into next season. It’s a great accomplishment.”

Park worked 25 scoreless innings to close the season--including 17 against the Padres (75-85)--and lowered his earned-run average to 3.27.

Park is eligible for arbitration, making agent Scott Boras very happy.

“That was dominating,” said pitching coach Claude Osteen, his face creased by a wide grin. “He was masterful all night long, and when he got to the seventh, he went after it. That’s what the good ones do.

“He’s full of confidence right now and he’s just so focused. He really has been all season, and this was a great one to go out on.”

TONIGHT DODGERS’ ERIC GAGNE

(3-6, 5.38 ERA)

vs.

PADRES’ MATT CLEMENT

(13-6, 4.88)

Qualcomm Stadium, 7

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

* Update--Gagne returns to the rotation after missing a turn because of a bruised right wrist. Clement is 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA against the Dodgers.