Dodgers' 1-2 Punch Is a Knockout

Dodgers’ 1-2 Punch Is a Knockout

By JASON REID

Sept. 7, 2001 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

DENVER —

Shawn Green and Gary Sheffield are pushing each other and pulling the Dodgers along with them in the National League playoff races.

They both had big games again Thursday night in a 9-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies before 31,407 at Coors Field, helping the club move closer to the leaders in the West and NL wild-card standings.

Green’s solo shot in the first against Mike Hampton gave him a career-high 43 homers and matched the Dodger record that Sheffield and Duke Snider also share.

He also had a run-scoring single and scored three runs, but the homer was the main discussion topic for obvious reasons.

“It feels great [to match the record], especially in a pennant race,” said Green, among the major league leaders in several categories. “That’s what it’s all about, and that’s all that matters.

“I wasn’t really too worried about it. It was something that would be nice to have, but I wasn’t really focused on it. I think other people were more focused on the home-run thing, but it’s good to get it out the way.”

Sheffield’s 34th homer--a two-run shot against Hampton (13-11) in the fifth--helped stake Terry Adams (12-6) to a 6-0 lead through five innings in another strong start, and his sacrifice fly in the ninth extended the lead to 9-5.

The Dodgers (77-63) took two of three from the Rockies and are two games behind the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks in the division, and only a half game behind the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants for the wild-card berth.

With 22 games remaining, Green and Sheffield have combined for 77 homers, six fewer than Snider and Roy Campanella hit in 1953 to establish the club’s season mark for teammates.

Sheffield said the races have brought the best out of him and Green, and each game presents more clutch opportunities.

“I’ve said it all along: The middle of the lineup, we’ve got to push each other,” he said. “Especially when those guys get on in front of us, one of us has got to come through, and we’ve been able to do that so far.

“[Green] is swinging the bat well. When we get guys on, he’s going to drive ‘em in. If he doesn’t, I will.”

Mark Grudzielanek also made a major contribution in the club’s fourth victory in five games. He hit his 12th homer, doubled, singled, drove in two runs, scored twice and stole a base.

Phil Hiatt, playing for injured first baseman Eric Karros, hit his second homer and the club’s fourth in the game.

Green and Sheffield are still leading the way as the Dodgers continue on their 12-game, 14-day trip, and Manager Jim Tracy would expect nothing less.

“It’s pretty much what we’ve been dealing with, offensively, over the course of the last month,” Tracy said. “They continue to step up big for us, and they’ll continue to do so.”

Adams continued to impress in his third consecutive victory, working six efficient innings and leaving with a 6-2 lead.

“Two runs in six innings here is great,” catcher Paul Lo Duca said of Adams. “He’s learning how to pitch every outing.”