Green Lifts the Dodgers

Shawn Green slammed the door on a frustrating first half and focused on starting anew.

Encouraging signs appeared quickly for the struggling slugger as Green hit a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning Thursday night in a 4-3 victory over Arizona at Bank One Ballpark.

Green seized the moment with two out and the Dodgers trailing, 3-0, connecting on a 1-and-2 slider from left-handed reliever Randy Choate for his seventh career grand slam.

Green’s 410-foot drive to right-center triggered a raucous celebration in the Dodger dugout and stunned the Diamondbacks and a crowd of 28,150 after Randy Johnson had dominated the Dodgers in seven scoreless innings.

“That was a big hit for Greenie, and it was big for us as a team,” catcher Paul Lo Duca said. “To hit a grand slam in that situation ... that was something.”

With the Dodgers emotionally charged after Green’s timely blast and Eric Gagne rested, Manager Jim Tracy didn’t risk a letdown.

Tracy turned to the All-Star closer for a four-out save after setup man Darren Dreifort sandwiched an infield hit to Luis Terrero between two strikeouts in the eighth. Gagne struck out pinch-hitter Danny Bautista to end the inning, and struck out the side in the ninth for his 24th save in 25 opportunities.

The Dodgers also received strong efforts in relief from Wilson Alvarez (4-3) and Tom Martin, who got Steve Finley on a fly ball with the bases loaded to end the sixth. The combination of Green’s momentum-shifting shot and the solid effort from the bullpen enabled the Dodgers (49-38) to remain a half-game ahead of second-place San Francisco (50-40) in the National League West.

“It felt great to get the big hit today,” said Green, third on the Dodgers with 11 home runs. “The guys had to load the bases up to do it, and it definitely felt good.”

The Dodgers were most pleased that Green started the second half in style.

“There isn’t anyone in that dugout who isn’t pulling for him to get back to who he is, and what he’s capable of, and that was completely indicative of it,” Tracy said of Green. “That’s what we’ve seen a lot of, those types of home runs, and that’s what Shawn Green is capable of.

“Those types of at-bats are what he’s all about. And psychologically ... the lift to come back and win that ballgame like that is a huge plus. That’s one that obviously wasn’t looking too good.”

The last-place Diamondbacks (31-59) might soon bid farewell to Johnson, which couldn’t happen soon enough for the Dodgers.

The five-time Cy Young Award winner, who said Monday he would waive his no-trade clause to play for a contender, reaffirmed his status as the top target in the trade market.

Johnson gave up four hits, had nine strikeouts and knocked in Arizona’s final run in the sixth with a run-scoring single against Dodger starter Jeff Weaver.

“That’s the best he’s been against us in a while,” Lo Duca said. “He just had nasty stuff tonight.

“He was 96, 97 [mph] and throwing it where he wanted to. His slider was, well, wow. He just had great stuff.”

Choate apparently didn’t.

Brian Bruney relieved Johnson to start the eighth.

After Dave Roberts flied out, Cesar Izturis singled to right. Jose Hernandez struck out and Lo Duca singled to center. Arizona interim Manager Al Pedrique summoned Choate (1-1) to face pinch-hitter Milton Bradley.

Tracy turned to Adrian Beltre, scratched from the starting lineup in batting practice, to face Choate because the switch-hitting Bradley has trouble batting right-handed after recently injuring his right shoulder.

Choate walked Beltre on four pitches with the left-handed-batting Green on deck.

In his three at-bats against Johnson, Green had two strikeouts and a weak infield hit to first. The ball Green hit against Choate landed beyond the swimming-pool area in right-center.

“It’s nice to start the second half off like this,” said Green, whose last grand slam also came against Arizona at Bank One Ballpark last September.

“You’ve just got to move forward in this game. We’re in first place, and I’m just trying to help us reach the playoffs.”