Park Is Back in Force Again

His back better and arm typically strong, Chan Ho Park delivered pain this time.

The right-hander Wednesday night overcame back spasms that prompted him to leave his last start and overpowered the Florida Marlins in a 3-2 victory before 27,301 at Dodger Stadium.

Park (4-3) was efficient in seven innings--and tough when he needed to be in a 101-pitch, 66-strike performance.

“He’s a guy who would be a No. 1 starter in a lot of rotations,” Marlin Manager John Boles said. “He’s got four quality pitches, he holds runners well, and he’s just a quality guy.”

He gave up three hits, struck out eight, walked two and hit two batters with pitches in earning his second victory in his last six starts.

Setup man Mike Fetters gave up two runs in the eighth--on Cliff Floyd’s 11th home run--after inheriting a 3-0 lead.

But the reliable reliever struck out former Dodger Charles Johnson to end the inning with the tying run at second.

Closer Jeff Shaw worked a perfect ninth to earn his 11th save in 12 chances for the National League West leaders, who have taken two of three in the four-game series.

Eric Karros’ third-inning single put the Dodgers ahead, 1-0, and Mark Grudzielanek extended the lead to 3-0 with a two-run home run--No. 7--to center in the seventh off Marlin starter Ryan Dempster (3-4) after Tom Goodwin singled with one out.

For a change, left fielder Gary Sheffield contributed to a victory more on defense than offense when he threw out Eric Owens at the plate in the sixth with the Dodgers up, 1-0.

But the Dodgers were most pleased about Park.

“Great pitching performance,” Manager Jim Tracy said of Park, who experienced slight back discomfort during the game. “Our starting pitcher did a fantastic job.”

Because of spasms, Park left in the seventh inning Friday in the Chicago Cubs’ 4-0 victory at Wrigley Field.

His work with trainer Stan Johnston appears to have helped.

Park finished strong Wednesday, striking out the side in the seventh.

“We just matched up against a pretty tough pitcher,” said Dempster, who gave up three runs [two earned] in seven innings. “He had great stuff tonight.”

Owens doubled to start the sixth and Park hit Floyd with a pitch on his right thigh, putting runners on first and second.

Park made a strong stand, striking out cleanup batter Preston Wilson and Mike Lowell, but Johnson sent a sharp single to left that Sheffield charged and gathered in one smooth motion.

He made a strong one-hop throw to catcher Chad Kreuter, who blocked the plate along the third base line and held onto the ball in a collision with Owens for the final out. Owens left the game because of a jammed right shoulder.

“That is the greatest moment in my life in baseball,” Park said of Sheffield’s throw. “It was amazing.”

Sheffield, working with coach John Shelby on fielding technique, also threw out two runners at the plate April 25 in the first inning of the Dodgers’ 6-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers took the lead in the third with the help of a Marlin error. Grudzielanek singled after Goodwin singled and was caught stealing, and Dempster struck out Sheffield for the second out.

Shawn Green then sent a line drive off the glove of third baseman Lowell, moving Grudzielanek to third on the error.

Karros’ single through the hole at short drove in Grudzielanek with the game’s first run, and Dave Hansen struck out with runners on first and second.

The game was the Dodgers’ 17th of the season that was decided by one run.