Dodgers’ Problems Gone With Wins

Does good chemistry create winning, or does winning create good chemistry? That question has been debated for years, and Dodger left fielder Brian Jordan has no revelations on the subject, but it’s clear to him they’ve gone hand in hand for the Dodgers this season.

Omar Daal gave up one run and four hits in six innings, and Shawn Green, Jordan and Marquis Grissom homered Thursday night to lift the Dodgers to a 7-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies before 41,279 in Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers, minus the endless distractions caused by disgruntled outfielder Gary Sheffield and the front-office upheaval caused by the firing of general manager Kevin Malone last season, increased their lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks to 2 1/2 games in the National League West.

They improved to 49-29, the first time since Sept. 27, 1996 the Dodgers have been 20 games over .500, and completed a 10-3 home stand by taking three of four games from Colorado. The Dodgers have won eight of nine games and nine series in a row.

“I noticed it in spring training--it’s just a positive environment,” said Jordan, acquired from Atlanta with pitcher Odalis Perez for Sheffield in January. “We have great chemistry now. The bench is putting its piece in, the starters are putting their piece in. It was a rough situation last year, from what I hear.

“Guys aren’t coming to the park worried about the media badgering them. No disrespect to you guys, but now guys are listening to music, cracking jokes, having fun ... everyone’s happy. When you can do that, it must mean you’re winning.”

Daal (6-3) struck out three and walked two in a crisp, 91-pitch effort, and four relievers closed Thursday’s game, completing a series in which the Dodgers limited Todd Helton and Larry Walker to two hits in 20 at-bats.

“That ranks up there with the best pitching we’ve seen all year,” Helton said. “That’s why they’re in first place.”

Added Colorado Manager Clint Hurdle: “They manhandled us the last three games.”

Kind of the way Green has manhandled opposing pitchers since mid-May. Green hit a towering homer to center field in the first inning, a solo shot that gave him 25 on the season, tying him with San Francisco’s Barry Bonds for second in the league. Green also ranks second with 62 runs batted in.

Since his horrendous start--Green was batting .230 with three homers and 21 RBIs on May 17--Green is batting .355 with 22 homers and 41 RBIs in his last 34 games. He hit nine home runs during this home stand and leads the major leagues with 12 homers and 27 runs this month.

Green is a lock to make the All-Star team, but as fan balloting closed late Thursday, Green ranked 14th among NL outfielders with only 188,648 votes and still trailed Pittsburgh’s Armando Rios, who is batting .257 with no homers and nine RBIs.

“Either we’re not casting enough votes here or they’re not staying up late enough on the East Coast,” said Dodger Manager Jim Tracy, who will serve as an NL coach in the July 9 All-Star game. “I don’t see how it’s possible he could not make the team with the virtual assault that has taken place since mid-May.”

Green gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead Thursday night with his homer off Colorado’s Denny Neagle (4-5).

“It’s a loud noise, a very convincing noise,” Tracy said of the sound created by Green’s recent homers. “You see this guy hit some balls, they leave the bat and start upward, and you think he didn’t quite get it. Then you watch the ball continue to travel and travel until the ballpark can no longer hold it.”

The stadium couldn’t hold two other balls hit by the Dodgers, who have hit 49 homers in the last 32 games. After Paul Lo Duca’s RBI single in the third, Jordan hit a two-run homer to left-center in the fourth. Grissom followed by lining his 10th homer of the season into the seats in left field, giving the Dodgers a 5-0 lead.

Mark Grudzielanek doubled to right, and Daal helped his cause with an RBI double over the head of Walker in right field for a 6-0 lead. The Rockies scored on Gary Bennett’s solo homer in the fifth.

“We’re playing pretty good right now,” Lo Duca said after the Dodgers improved to 16-5 against left-handed starters. “The Diamondbacks and Giants aren’t going to go anywhere, but I don’t think we’re going to go anywhere either.”

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*--* Green Power With another homer Thursday, Shawn Green has hit 20 home runs in the Dodgers’ last 32 games. Only four players in major league history have hit 20 homers over a shorter span in one season Player (Team) HR G Sammy Sosa (1998 Cubs) 20 24 Barry Bonds (2001 Giants) 20 27 Ralph Kiner (1947 Pirates) 20 29 Reggie Jackson (1969 A’s) 20 30 Shawn Green (2002 Dodgers) 20 32

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When Shawn’s On The Dodgers have won 13 of the 18 games in which Shawn Green has homered. A look: Date Opponent, Result HR April 9 San Francisco, W, 3-0 1 April 13 San Diego, L ,6-4 1 April 20 San Diego, W, 4-1 1 May 21 Milwaukee, L ,8-6 2 May 23 Milwaukee, W, 16-3 4 May 24 Arizona, L ,14-3 1 May 25 Arizona, W, 10-5 2 May 27 Milwaukee, W, 5-3 1 June 8 Baltimore, W, 8-4 1 June 10 Tampa Bay, W, 10-5 1 June 12 Tampa Bay, W, 4-2 1 June 14 Angels, L, 8-4 2 June 15 Angels, W, 10-5 2 June 19 Toronto, W, 5-2 1 June 22 Boston, W, 5-4 1 June 24 Colorado, L, 4-1 1 June 26 Colorado, W, 5-3 1 June 27 Colorado, W, 7-1 1

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