Randolph Delivers a Surprise Package : Athletics: Traded by Dodgers in mid-May, he didn’t think he would be needed by World Series champions.

OAKLAND —  Willie Randolph says he was surprised by the mid-May trade that sent him from the Dodgers to the Oakland Athletics for Stan Javier.

“I was comfortable in Los Angeles, I enjoyed playing there,” Randolph said Tuesday. “I was surprised by the trade because I didn’t think the A’s needed me to win another championship and I felt that the Dodgers did.”

Maybe the Dodgers did, but as it turns out, the A’s definitely do. And Randolph responded to the need in Game 3 of the American League playoffs here by driving in two runs with two singles in a 4-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

So now the A’s are a victory away from a sweep and a third consecutive trip to the World Series. Randolph smiled.

“The first thing I thought about when I got over my surprise was that I had another shot at a ring,” he said. “I was very happy to be here.”

The knee injury that sidelined shortstop Walt Weiss makes the acquisition of Randolph seem particularly providential. Mike Gallego moved over to short from second base and Randolph is playing second.

“It’s unfortunate that Walter got hurt, but good teams have a way of picking each other up,” Randolph said. “You never know what’s going to happen, who’s going to get hurt. It turns out that Sandy’s a genius.”

He referred to Sandy Alderson, the A’s general manager who followed his early season acquisition of Randolph with the late season addition of Harold Baines and Willie McGee, reinforcing, according to Manager Tony La Russa, what the players believe to be a commitment to winning.

Tuesday’s game was Randolph’s first playoff start since 1981, when he made the last of five consecutive playoff trips with the New York Yankees.

Gretchen Randolph asked her husband Monday night what time he wanted the alarm set for Tuesday morning and Randolph, at 36 and in the twilight of his 16th season, said he wouldn’t need it.

“I checked the clock every hour,” he said. “It was like the night before Christmas. I was really keyed up, really excited, and I’m glad it was that way. Once the butterflies go, retirement is next.”

There were cynics who figured that Randolph might have been ready for that when he started slowly with the A’s, making the difficult adjustment to a new club, new pitchers, new spot in the batting order. He ultimately batted .257 with the A’s, .303 over his final 35 games, .388 over his last 49 at-bats as he shared the position with Gallego.

“I took some jabs, but I’m not trying to prove anyone wrong,” Randolph said. “I’m doing what I’ve done for years and I never doubted that I could still do it. If you watch me over a period of time, you appreciate what I can do.”

Those who watched Randolph in New York appreciated his style on and off the field, the dignity and the ability to remain untouched by the constant controversy.

Similarly, asked if he had been insulted by La Russa’s decision to start Gallego in the first two games, Randolph shook his head and said: “Disappointed but not insulted. I respect Tony as a manager, know he’s trying to do everything he can to put a winning team on the field. Everyone wants to play in this situation, but I pulled for the guys, prepared normally and stayed ready mentally.”

Randolph got his chance against Mike Boddicker Tuesday and said the adrenaline was flowing.

“Boddicker is real crafty,” he said. “You can’t think with him. I was only trying to look for the ball and be aggressive. My concentration level was high, but batting eighth you never know if they’ll pitch around you or to you. I was surprised he challenged me.”

Randolph flared a single to right--a thing of beauty, he said--breaking a 1-1 tie and giving the A’s a 2-1 lead in the fourth. He bounced a single over the pitcher’s head in the sixth, making it 3-1.

“Boddicker’s a very good fielder,” Randolph said. “I didn’t know if he’d be able to get it. I held my breath and said, ‘Climb, climb, climb.’ ”

This is how the A’s are doing it. They have 32 hits--29 singles and three doubles.

“This just shows we know how to win,” said Randolph, who talked about a fraternity of little guys and the pride they take in lifting pressure off the A’s bashers.

And it was reminiscent of another time and place.

“It seems like an eternity since 1981,” he said. “I was spoiled, making the playoffs my first four or five years. I thought it was easy, but came to realize it wasn’t.

“I’m sure I have more appreciation for it now. It’s a great feeling to be back.”