Grissom Is Powerful in Leading Role

Marquis Grissom has learned a lot in 13 seasons in the majors--including what he should expect from himself.

At 34, Grissom acknowledges he does not do some things as well as he used to, but the reserve outfielder and leadoff batter believes he can still contribute.

He certainly did Wednesday night, with two home runs and an outstanding catch in the Dodgers’ 7-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Cinergy Field.

“I’m just all about trying to win at this point in my career,” said Grissom, who had the third multihomer game of his career.

“I’m not the type of guy who’s going to walk a lot in the leadoff spot because that’s just not my game. I’ve got some power and I’m going up there to hit. That’s what my game is.”

Grissom hit the first pitch of the game for a homer and had a two-run shot in the fourth against Cincinnati starter Pete Harnisch (1-3).

In the eighth, he made a leaping catch against the center-field wall to rob Dmitri Young of an extra-base hit and end the inning with Barry Larkin on second and the Dodgers leading, 7-3.

The Dodgers hit five homers to match their season high in taking the second game of the three-game series before a crowd of 21,323.

Starter Kevin Brown (4-1) had a big role in the 13-hit attack.

The right-hander hit his first career homer--the ball bounced off the top of the wall in the left-field corner--and reached on an error in the fourth before Grissom’s second homer.

“I thought it was a foul ball when I hit it,” Brown said. “I had already stopped going around first base because I didn’t see it. [First-base coach John Shelby] had to tell me.”

Grissom had no doubts about his blasts.

“I don’t consider myself a home run hitter,” Grissom said. “I just go out and try to hit the ball hard.

“I’ve been in the leadoff spot because I have speed, but I can also hit the ball out of the ballpark. Like I said, what I’m going to do is just stay aggressive, stick to my game and I’ll have more success.”

That’s fine with Manager Jim Tracy.

“He can still jump and he can hit some home runs,” Tracy said. “When we put the lineup together today, I just really liked the matchup with him in there, and fortunately it worked out. He had a great game both offensively and defensively.”

Others also had good nights against Harnisch.

Harnisch gave up Grissom’s homers, Eric Karros’ fifth--a two-run blast in the first--and Brown’s shot, matching his highest single-game total in five shaky innings.

Gary Sheffield hit his eighth homer, a solo shot, in the eighth against reliever Scott Sullivan, giving the Dodgers five in a game for the third time this season.

They also had that many in victories April 6-7 over the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium.

Brown capitalized on the support, pitching seven strong innings and winning in his fourth consecutive start.

The club’s No. 1 starter gave up five hits--including Young’s fifth homer--and three runs. He struck out six and walked one while throwing 66 strikes in 105 pitches.

Brown’s one-out, solo homer to left in the second was his first in 387 big league at-bats.

“I’ve been pretty frustrated with my swing, and that’s not to say the frustration won’t return,” Brown said. “I’ve been working at it.

“It’s great, but I just wish I hadn’t given one up. That would have made me feel even better.”

Grissom sent Harnisch’s first pitch of the game over the center-field wall for his second leadoff homer this season, and the 17th of his career.

He also homered April 19 to start a 10-1 victory over the Giants at Pacific Bell Park.

“I know what he can do because I’ve known him since I was a little kid in high school,” Sheffield said of Grissom. “Just look at his track record and what he’s done on other good teams he’s been with.

“Any time he’s out there you know what you’re going to get. He’s going to hit close to 20 [homers] and drive in 70-something runs. Anybody has a leadoff guy who can do that . . . it’s just a plus.”