Lo Duca Caught in Lineup Squeeze

Catcher Chad Kreuter usually starts when Chan Ho Park pitches because the Dodgers want the all-star right-hander to be happy.

But the situation stirred a buzz on the Internet and talk radio after a nine-game winning streak ended Thursday in a 3-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium.

Some fans expressed frustration because Paul Lo Duca was not in the lineup despite batting .500 (18 for 36) with six home runs, 18 runs batted in and 11 runs in nine games against the Giants.

The versatile Lo Duca, who has batted throughout the order, played well at first while subbing for Eric Karros, but Karros does not want time off now.

Manager Jim Tracy has considered moving Lo Duca to right field and Shawn Green to center when Park starts, but that would put productive center fielder Marquis Grissom on the bench.

Fans might not understand Tracy’s dilemma, but Lo Duca does.

“I can understand the fans’ perspective, but they don’t know what goes on [behind the scenes],” said Lo Duca, who began Friday’s game batting .352 with 14 homers and 44 RBIs.

“I understand Trace’s standpoint because [the Park-Kreuter situation] was established last season, that’s what it’s going to be the rest of this season, and I have no beef with that at all. I knew coming into the season that Chad did a great job with Chan Ho, that’s his guy, so I knew I would have a day off when I came to the park [Thursday].

“The bad part about it is, and the thing that’s awesome, is that Chad is playing well. He has been playing great baseball, and that’s probably lost on the fans. They see what I’ve been doing and they automatically put Chad down. That’s not right because he really has been great.”

Lo Duca appreciates the fans’ support.

“It’s something you dream about,” the eight-year minor leaguer said. “Any time you get a curtain call from 40,000, 50,000 people, it’s a real special feeling. The season has been wonderful and the fans of L.A. have been great to me.”

Tracy said right-hander Luke Prokopec has been scratched from his next scheduled start because of a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand. Left-hander Jeff Williams will start Sunday against the Seattle Mariners at Dodger Stadium. . . . An announcement is expected today on disciplinary action against Grissom, who was ejected from Wednesday’s game with the Giants after an altercation with an umpire.

TODAY

DODGERS’ TERRY ADAMS

(4-2, 5.37 ERA)

vs.

MARINERS’ PAUL ABBOTT

(7-2, 4.65 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 1

TV--Channel 11. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

Update--Adams is 2-0 with a 5.61 earned-run average in six starts. Abbott is 5-0 since May 22.