Dodgers Feeling a Power Surge

Gary Sheffield is sending a message about playoff-race intensity, and the Dodgers said they are following his lead.

The all-star left fielder set another good example with a two-run home run in the eighth inning Tuesday night to lead the Dodgers to a 5-4 victory against the Florida Marlins before an announced crowd of 12,209 at Pro Player Stadium.

Sheffield’s 29th homer and fourth in as many games broke a 3-3 tie, helping the Dodgers (68-57) win for only the seventh time in 20 games in the opener of the three-game series.

“He sends a pretty good message when you watch what’s going on, and not even the fact that he hit the home run, which was the difference in the ballgame,” Manager Jim Tracy said. “You observe his intensity with each and every at-bat he goes up there.

“He’s just very tuned in on what’s going on right here, and is very well aware of what it takes to get it done. He’s been through it, he understands it, he knows how to do it and he wants to do it at this time of the year.”

Sheffield, who fainted last Wednesday, hopes to continue making a difference down the stretch in the National League West and wild-card races.

He said he received good news after undergoing neurological tests Monday, and is focused on the field.

“[Physicians] took the tests Monday and said everything is fine,” Sheffield said. “They just said drink plenty of water and eat enough, because I wasn’t eating enough.

“I eat maybe once, twice a day. I wasn’t putting enough food in me. If I just put enough food in me, I’ll be fine.”

With one out and Mark Grudzielanek at first after a leadoff walk in the eighth, Sheffield homered to left on a 3-and-1 slider against reliever Vladimir Nunez (3-4).

The third-place Dodgers pulled to within 41/2 games of the leading Arizona Diamondbacks--whose winning streak ended at nine games--in the tight West.

The struggling Marlins (59-65) have dropped eight in a row, and Sheffield’s timely performance only increased their frustration.

“It’s [been written] in the papers that certain guys have got to step it up, and that would be me and the other top players in the middle of the lineup,” said Sheffield, batting .403 with four homers and 18 runs batted in this month.

“This is the time to do it. If anybody’s going to do it, it’s going to be [the middle of the order], and I look forward to the challenge every time I step out there. I want the opportunity to win the game or lose the game. I take responsibility for whatever happens, especially when the game is within two runs.”

Eric Gagne helped put Sheffield in position with his fifth quality start in his last six, pitching six strong innings in a no-decision.

He gave up seven hits and three runs, had seven strikeouts and drove in the Dodgers’ first run with his first career triple.

Giovanni Carrara (4-1) pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Gagne, and closer Jeff Shaw recorded his 35th save, retiring three consecutive batters after Kevin Millar led off with his 13th homer.

“The young kid went out tonight and gave us six quality innings,” Tracy said. “Carrara, as he’s done all season long, pitched two great innings behind Eric, and Shaw got the three outs that we needed to win the game.”

The Dodgers said they must do well on the seven-game trip after a 2-4 homestand, and Sheffield got them off to a good start.

“He’s awesome,” catcher Paul Lo Duca said. “Sheff is telling everybody on this team that we’re not going to throw in the towel. When somebody like Sheff goes like this, it lifts everybody else up. I get a good view from on deck, so it’s even better.

“He can carry you for a while, and as long as he keeps carrying us, we win. It’s almost like you expect it from him. That’s the bad part because you don’t realize how good it is. Just awesome.”

Tracy said Sheffield continues to exceed his high expectations.

“I’ve said so many times that there’s very little that this man does offensively that surprises me,” he said. “When you start talking about some of the best hitters in baseball, I would certainly hope that his name would be right up there at the top of the list, because he can hurt you in so many ways.”