Hansen a Good First Option

Dave Hansen is one of the majors’ top pinch-hitters and enjoys the difficult job, but he also might be the solution to a pressing Dodger problem.

The playoff contenders need more production with first baseman Eric Karros struggling, and Hansen produced three singles and four runs batted in Thursday night in a 6-2 victory over the Florida Marlins before an announced crowd of 12,262 at Pro Player Stadium.

Hansen responded in a rare start, matching his personal best in RBIs while playing first and batting sixth in place of Karros.

It was what the Dodgers and Karros needed, he said.

“It was good for us to mix it up a little bit today,” Hansen said. “I got a few consecutive at-bats to try to do some things with my swing, and it will be good for E.K. to take a break and regroup.

“He’ll be in there and he’ll start producing. He’s a good player. I’m not worried about that.”

Gary Sheffield also made another big contribution, missing only a home run for the cycle in helping the Dodgers (69-58) win the final game of the series and pull within 41/2 games of the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West.

Sheffield, whose streak of four consecutive games with a home run ended Wednesday, walked in the first, had a two-run triple in the third, doubled in the fifth and singled in the eighth.

Reliever Ricky Bones walked him on four pitches in the ninth.

Sheffield increased his season-high hitting streak to 12 games as the Dodgers took two of three from the Marlins.

In Sheffield’s last 15 games against one of his former teams, he is batting .389 with four doubles, eight homers, 21 RBIs and 15 walks.

James Baldwin (2-1) worked eight strong innings for the Dodgers, outperforming Marlin starter Ryan Dempster (14-11).

Struggling setup man Matt Herges had two strikeouts in a perfect ninth.

“Every game is important right now,” said Baldwin, who gave up five hits. “We’re in the last month of the season, pretty much, and every game is going to count.

“We can’t go out there and give away any games. We’ve got to go out there and do our jobs as starting pitchers.”

The Dodgers have four games remaining against the East-leading Atlanta Braves on this trip, and Manager Jim Tracy now has more to consider about the situation at first.

“Four of the six, four of the six,” Tracy said, referring to Hansen’s production. “He did a great job, and that spot is critical in this order with the way that [Paul] Lo Duca, Sheff and [Shawn Green] are finding their way on base.

“You’re going to come up, more times than not, in that situation in the lineup, and there’s going to be men on base. It’s a run-producing slot right now with the way our lineup sets up.”

Karros has not capitalized often, batting only .230 with 13 homers and 52 RBIs.

Tracy is open to alternatives and Hansen is in the mix, though putting him in the everyday lineup would weaken the bench.

“It’s something that we’re going to look at every day,” Tracy said. “It’s something that is necessary because there’s 35 baseball games left to play.

“We’re very much in the thick of things in two different races [NL West and wild card]. We’re just going to have to continue to do what we feel is in the best interests of this club, to afford us the best opportunity to continue to surge forward.”

Hansen is still focused on his main job.

“It’s great that I got some hits there in those spots. It’s good for the team and it’s also good for me to actually be successful in what I’m trying to do in the box,” he said. “I need those [at-bats] for later in the ballgame when I’m called on.

“It’s a win-win situation for our bench guys to get some at-bats. That way we will be refreshed when called upon.

“That’s the way Jim has been managing and it works. Everybody stays positive, and positive motivation goes a long way.”

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