Painful Reminder for Grissom

The Montreal Expos had the major leagues’ best record, 74-40, when baseball’s last work stoppage wiped out the final seven weeks of the regular season and then the playoffs and World Series in 1994.

Current Dodger Marquis Grissom was the starting center fielder for that team, which included standouts such as Larry Walker, Moises Alou, Ken Hill, and John Wetteland, and rising stars such as Pedro Martinez, Cliff Floyd and Jeff Shaw.

Heavy financial losses incurred during the seven-month strike forced Montreal to break up the 1994 team and virtually sell it off, piece by piece, over the next few years.

The result: The Expos never made it to the playoffs, and their franchise has fallen into such disrepair that there is threat of contraction or a possible move out of Montreal.

Now Grissom could be in the same position again, one that makes him squirm. His Dodgers are 3 1/2 games ahead of San Francisco in the National League wild-card race, with a sparkling 75-55 record and postseason aspirations, just like the Expos had in 1994. But another strike Friday could render their promising season moot.

“I’ve been around for three work stoppages, and one for me is too many,” said Grissom, a 13-year veteran. “And to be in first place for two of those, that’s tough. That [Expo] team was something so special, I hate to keep imagining how good we could have been and how long we could have won for.

“Baseball is a beautiful game, and to see it in this kind of shape over nothing.... There’s enough for everybody. There’s enough revenue, if they want to share it, we can work it out. They want a salary cap? It’s always something that can be worked out. It boils down to, how much do you want?”

*

Center fielder Dave Roberts, who did not start Saturday because of a stiff neck, could have played Sunday, but Manager Jim Tracy did not start him because the Braves were pitching left-hander Damian Moss, who held left-handers to a .165 average prior to Sunday’s game.

Grissom started in center and Mike Kinkade started in left, a move that paid dividends when Kinkade smacked a ground-rule RBI double during the Dodgers’ four-run second inning.

Roberts appeared as a pinch-hitter in the ninth, popping to second.

Second baseman Mark Grudzielanek, who started the previous 21 games and is batting .336 since the All-Star break, did not start Sunday because of a tender right hamstring. Grudzielanek entered as part of a double switch in the eighth inning and is expected to start tonight.

*

Dodger closer Eric Gagne got to fulfill the boyhood dream of just about every kid growing up in hockey-mad Montreal--he hoisted the Stanley Cup above his head Sunday night.

Gagne took part in a pregame ceremony honoring Detroit Red Wing and former King star Luc Robitaille, who brought the Stanley Cup to Dodger Stadium on Sunday and received a Dodger jersey from Gagne.

*

ON DECK

Opponent--Arizona Diamondbacks, three games.

Site--Dodger Stadium.

Tonight--7.

TV--Fox Sports Net 2 all three games.

Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

Records--Dodgers 75-55, Diamondbacks 83-47.

Record vs. Diamondbacks--6-7.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

OMAR DAAL

(10-6, 3.65 ERA)

vs.

DIAMONDBACKS’

CURT SCHILLING

(21-4, 2.68 ERA)

Update--The Dodgers have been one of baseball’s hottest teams, winning 13 of their last 17 games, but they were unable to gain any ground on Arizona because the Diamondbacks have been just as hot, winning 13 of their last 15. They’ll have their hands full tonight against Schilling, who has a 13-5 career record and 2.81 ERA against the Dodgers.

Tuesday, 7 p.m.--Hideo Nomo (12-6, 3.49) vs. Miguel Batista (7-7, 4.06).

Wednesday, 7 p.m.--Odalis Perez (11-8, 3.14) vs. Rick Helling (8-8, 4.29).

Tickets--(323) 224-1448.