Short Fuse Ignites Dodgers

Maybe the Dodgers don’t need a bigger-name shortstop after all.

The club is considering acquiring another veteran middle infielder for a playoff push, but Jeff Reboulet certainly appeared up to the challenge Saturday, matching his career high with four runs batted in and making two nifty plays in a 10-6 victory against the Colorado Rockies before 34,808 at Dodger Stadium.

Reboulet stirred things atop the order, going three for five with three runs, two doubles and his third home run while helping the National League West leaders chase Colorado starter Mike Hampton (10-8) after only 2 1/3 innings--his shortest outing this season.

The Dodgers will talk with other clubs until Tuesday’s trading deadline, but they’re feeling good about the overall play of the Reboulet-Alex Cora tandem.

“Reboulet is one of those key guys who we’ve talked about so many times this year,” said Manager Jim Tracy, whose club leads the second-place Arizona Diamondbacks by 1 1/2 games.

“When we were in dire need of help due to injury, he stepped up in a big way. He’s helped complement Alex Cora in a phenomenal manner, and has enabled us to be able to find situations for Alex to develop as a young player.

“We’ve been able to give Alex opportunities where you feel like success is the most probable outcome for him. The sum of the parts of this ballclub is much greater than the whole. That’s just what it all boils down to.”

Reboulet doubled and scored the game’s first run in the first, had a run-scoring double and scored in a five-run second and hit a three-run homer against reliever Justin Speier to highlight a four-run third, giving the Dodgers a 10-4 lead and making starter Chan Ho Park (11-6) happy.

The nine-year veteran also started a force play at second with a diving stop in the third and robbed Juan Uribe of a hit in the second on a strong throw to first from deep in the hole.

“That’s just the type of performance this team has been getting all year,” left fielder Gary Sheffield said. “No matter who goes out there, we expect someone to just do something big.”

Reboulet filled the role well again as the Dodgers (61-44) moved a season-high 17 games above .500.

The last-place Rockies (43-61) have dropped the first three games of the series and four in a row.

Typically with the Dodgers these days, there were many big contributions.

Shawn Green continued his torrid power pace, hitting a two-run homer against Hampton--the majors’ highest-paid pitcher--in the five-run second for his 30th of the season and seventh in eight games.

Green became the first L.A. Dodger left-handed batter to hit at least 30 homers, and only the fourth in franchise history.

Marquis Grissom hit his 16th homer, and the Dodgers needed the big cushion with Al Reyes struggling in the ninth.

Reyes, who walked three, gave up a run and the Rockies loaded the bases when Todd Helton walked, prompting Tracy to summon all-star closer Jeff Shaw.

Alex Ochoa flied out to give Shaw his league-leading 32nd save, completing the Dodgers’ 13th victory in 15 games and 23rd in 30.

Although the Dodgers might acquire another everyday shortstop, Reboulet and Cora said they are focused on the field.

“I’m just a little cog in the wheel here, a little spoke,” said Reboulet, batting .275 with 22 RBIs. “Whatever they want to do, whatever they think is best for the team, I just play.

“Everybody here realizes all you can do is go out and play. You can’t control those things.”

Park earned a victory in his third consecutive start despite giving up a season-high nine hits in seven innings, including consecutive homers to Jeff Cirillo (No. 13) and Helton (No. 30) that produced four unearned runs in the third after third baseman Adrian Beltre’s error.

Park singled, scored twice and improved to 3-0 in four starts against Hampton.

The Dodgers provided Park with double-digit support for only the second time in 2001, pounding nine of their 13 hits--and two of three homers--against Hampton.

“They had a tough pitcher on the mound, and we knew it was going to be tough to beat him,” said Hampton, in the first year of an eight-year, $121-million contract. “They’re just playing great ball right now.”