Road Will Test Their Mettle

Having failed to match the sustained success of the 1899 Brooklyn Superbas, who won 20 of 21 games en route to winning the National League pennant, the Dodgers would settle for merely being superb during a stretch in which they play 19 of 25 games on the road beginning tonight in San Francisco.

The Dodgers, who lead the Arizona Diamondbacks by three games in the National League West, will play three games against the Giants at AT&T; Park before playing three-game series at San Diego and Arizona.

“We know it’s going to be a tough road trip,” first baseman Nomar Garciaparra said. “We’re going to continue doing what we have been doing, and that’s just focusing on ourselves and focusing on what we have to do to play good baseball.”

The Dodgers will return to Dodger Stadium on Aug. 28 for a six-game homestand before embarking on a 10-game trip against Milwaukee, the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs.

“Every game is important for us right now,” said Manager Grady Little, whose team has won 17 of 19 games. “The homestand turned out awfully good for us, and we just have to keep it going on the road.”

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When he was asked about the status of Chad Billingsley a week ago, Little did little to downplay the notion that the erratic rookie’s spot in the rotation might be in jeopardy. But after Mark Hendrickson struggled Wednesday during his shortest start of the season, Little seemed to suggest that it was only the media that had questioned the job security of his starting pitchers.

“We’re going to get the radio talk show to take calls and take a survey, and whatever they want me to do, I’ll do it,” Little said sarcastically when asked whether Hendrickson would make his next start.

“This guy right here, he’s kept us in a lot of ballgames since he’s joined our club. He doesn’t necessarily have a lot of wins under his belt, but he’s kept us in a lot of ballgames and given us a chance to win, and that can’t be overlooked. [Wednesday] was just a bad day. It will be good if we all just forget about it and go forward.”