Grudzielanek Returns to New Batting Order

Second baseman Mark Grudzielanek returned to the Dodger lineup Thursday, batting sixth. Grudzielanek has hit second most of the season, but Manager Jim Tracy has not been satisfied with the run production of the hitters following Shawn Green, Gary Sheffield and Paul Lo Duca.

First baseman Eric Karros, recently dropped to sixth in the lineup, is batting .162 (6 for 37) with no walks and 16 strikeouts since hitting his last home run Aug. 15. Tracy said Karros would bat sixth today but would not rule out dropping him to seventh at times, with Grudzielanek sixth and Alex Cora or Jeff Reboulet second.

“At this point in the season, whatever it takes to make us as strong as we possibly can be, we’ll explore,” Tracy said.

Grudzielanek was examined Thursday by Dr. Norman Zemel, a hand specialist, who said Grudzielanek could play so long as he could tolerate the pain from the fractured middle finger on his right hand. He missed three games because of the injury.

“I’ve got 20 or 30 games to suck it up, and hopefully 12 or 13 more after that,” he said, referring to the possibility of postseason play.

Zemel told Grudzielanek, who has endured a sprained ankle and torn thumb ligament this season, that the broken finger should heal without surgery, barring another injury.

“If I have a little more bad luck--which wouldn’t surprise me--then I probably wouldn’t be able to play again this season,” Grudzielanek said.

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The Dodgers abandoned their search for a right-handed pinch-hitter, deciding the available players were no better than triple-A Las Vegas infielder Phil Hiatt, who leads the minor leagues with 44 home runs. Although Hiatt batted .182 with one home run and 13 strikeouts in 33 at-bats for the Dodgers in April, they recalled him Thursday so he would be eligible for the playoffs.

“I don’t know if Phil Hiatt can help us,” Tracy said.

The Dodgers cleared roster space for Hiatt by sending pitcher Luke Prokopec to Las Vegas. Although players not on the 25-man roster or major league disabled list today are not eligible for a postseason roster, teams can replace an injured pitcher with another pitcher in the organization, so the Dodgers could submit a playoff roster that included the injured Andy Ashby or Darren Dreifort, then replace him with Prokopec.

When rosters expand to 40 Saturday, the Dodgers plan to activate pitcher Jesse Orosco and promote pitcher Dennis Springer, infielder Chris Donnels and outfielder McKay Christensen from Las Vegas. After the Pacific Coast League season ends Monday, the Dodgers will promote Prokopec, pitchers Al Reyes and Jeff Williams, catcher Brian Johnson and infielder Jeff Branson. They also will activate infielder Tim Bogar from his rehabilitation assignment at Las Vegas.

ON DECK

Opponent--St. Louis Cardinals, three games.

Site--Dodger Stadium.

Tonight--7.

TV--Ch. 5 tonight, Fox Sports Net 2 Saturday.

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

Records--Dodgers 73-61, Cardinals 72-61.

Record vs. Cardinals--0-0.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

ERIC GAGNE

(4-6, 4.85 ERA)

vs. CARDINALS’

WOODY WILLIAMS

(10-9, 4.92 ERA)

Update--The Cardinals and Dodgers, fighting each other and three other teams for the National League wild-card bid, meet for the first time this season. The Cardinals have scored 29 runs in their last two games, with center fielder Jim Edmonds driving in seven.

Saturday, 7 p.m.--Terry Adams (10-6, 4.85 ERA) vs. Dustin Hermanson (12-10, 4.44 ERA).

Sunday, 5 p.m.--Kevin Brown (8-4, 2.80 ERA) vs. Darryl Kile (13-9, 2.92 ERA).

Tickets--(323) 224-1448.