Force Is With Dodger Rookie

It might be time for the Dodger publicity machine to churn at top speed, because another fast-rising rookie is opening eyes.

A club accustomed to first-year sensations apparently has another in starter Luke Prokopec, who impressed again Saturday night in a 7-2 victory over the Houston Astros at Dodger Stadium.

With Marquis Grissom having his second multi-homer game of the season and the Dodgers playing stellar defense behind him, Prokopec improved to 6-1 with a strong 8 2/3-inning outing before 38,735.

The Australian right-hander no longer surprises his manager, who is enjoying the show.

“You can’t ignore what this young man is doing right now and the statement he is making,” Jim Tracy said of Prokopec, a leading early candidate for rookie of the year. “The way he goes out there and competes is something.

“Our defense was spectacular, no question, but our starting pitcher was excellent. His competitive nature is phenomenal. You can’t say enough good things about him.”

Prokopec tired in the ninth and Tracy turned to the bullpen, summoning right-hander Gregg Olson to nail down the final out with Moises Alou on first.

Olson walked Richard Hidalgo but got Vinny Castilla to fly out to center fielder Tom Goodwin on the warning track.

Although denied a chance for his first complete game, Prokopec nonetheless dazzled Dodger fans, who gave him a standing ovation as he walked to the dugout and tipped his cap in appreciation.

Prokopec befuddled the Astros with excellent pitch assortment, movement and velocity.

The result was a six-hit performance that included Lance Berkman’s two-out, ninth-inning solo home run that contributed to Prokopec’s departure.

The consistent starter threw 64 strikes in 100 pitches. He had three strikeouts without a walk while lowering his earned-run average from 3.59 to 3.33.

“I was right around the dish early on in the game,” said Prokopec, vying to become the club’s 17th rookie of the year and first since outfielder Todd Hollandsworth completed a five-in-a-row run in 1996.

“It got a little tight in the end, but that’s the way it goes. It would have been nice to get that last out.”

Prokopec earned a victory in his third consecutive start, helped the Dodgers take the first two games of the series and extended their winning streak to three games.

Of course, the young standout had much support in helping the Dodgers remain tied atop the NL West with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Grissom did an uncanny impression of Gary Sheffield while playing for the injured left fielder, hitting his ninth and 10th home runs, driving in five runs and making an outstanding running catch against the wall in the seventh.

And Grissom wasn’t the only Dodger making highlight plays.

Shortstop Alex Cora robbed Craig Biggio of a hit in the first.

Right fielder Shawn Green took extra bases away from Castilla in the fifth, and third baseman Adrian Beltre did the same in the sixth to Jeff Bagwell.

And then there was Goodwin. He leaped above the wall in the seventh to prevent Alou from leading off the inning with a homer.

Grissom provided all the support Prokopec and Olson would need in the third, hitting a three-run homer to center against Astro starter Shane Reynolds (4-4) after the Dodgers stranded five runners in the first two innings.

Mark Grudzielanek’s run-scoring single in the fourth gave the Dodgers a 4-1 lead, and then Grissom and Beltre displayed more power in a three-run eighth that left no doubt about the outcome with Prokopec cruising.

Beltre led off with a homer, his second, into the left-field corner against reliever Nelson Cruz.

Grissom also tagged one of the right-hander’s pitches after Dave Hansen walked.

“I’m still bitter at myself because I don’t think I’m a fourth outfielder,” Grissom said. “I have a lot to prove.”