Dodgers Stunned by Win

The Dodgers, disgusted with themselves Wednesday afternoon and refusing to believe their offense could be this bad, naturally turned to their big guy to bail them out of trouble.

Would you believe Nelson Liriano?

Liriano, whose claim to fame this season has been his close friendship with right fielder Raul Mondesi, hit a stunning, game-winning, ninth-inning homer in the Dodgers’ 6-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Liriano, who had not driven in a run all season and had only 24 homers in his seven-year career, might have left his own team more speechless than the Cubs with his two-run homer.

“Wow, we couldn’t believe it either,” Manager Bill Russell said. “We couldn’t believe it went that far.

“You don’t expect a home run.”

The Cubs, who have lost games in virtually every way this season, never could have envisioned being beaten by Liriano.

Mike Piazza, they could accept. Eric Karros and Todd Zeile are capable of damage. But Nelson Liriano?

“This is just what we needed,” Piazza said. “This is a big win. We needed a spark like that, believe me.”

Said Mondesi: “Just call it Dominican power.”

The Dodgers aren’t sure what to call it, but after coming back from as much as a two-run deficit after the sixth inning for only the second time this season, maybe this will be the elixir to cure their offensive woes.

“We can’t just sit back and wait for Mike Piazza and Eric Karros and Todd Zeile to do it every day,” said left fielder Eric Anthony, who led off the ninth with a double in his first start of the year. “Somebody else has to step up. Today, the bench did it.”

It began in the seventh with the Dodgers trailing, 3-0, and looking futile against Cub starter Steve Trachsel, who began the game with a 1-4 record and 7.03 earned-run average. Karros led off with a single, bringing up Mondesi.

“I said, ‘Come on, Mondy, let’s go,’ ” Liriano said. “ ‘Don’t lose your concentration. Keep your focus.’ ”

Mondesi sent the first pitch into the left-field bleachers, and suddenly, the Dodgers were alive again. No one realized where it would lead, particularly after Brian McRae led off the seventh with a homer against reliever Darren Hall.

In the eighth, it was Liriano’s turn.

Liriano, batting only .176 while struggling with nagging injuries, led off with a double to center against reliever Terry Adams, who had not permitted an earned run this season. Todd Hollandsworth grounded to third for the first out, but Greg Gagne followed with a run-scoring single to center. Piazza, who has not driven in a run since May 4, walked. Karros followed with a line drive off Adams’ right shoulder, knocking him out of the game and loading the bases for Mondesi.

Mondesi, refusing to chase pitches out of the strike zone, hit a sacrifice fly to deep left against reliever Turk Wendell, scoring Gagne and tying the score, 4-4.

There was no stopping the Dodgers now, particularly with struggling closer Mel Rojas starting the ninth. Anthony, hitless in his nine at-bats against Rojas, sliced a double to left field. Pinch-hitter Juan Castro sacrificed.

That brought up Liriano, who was simply looking for a sacrifice fly. Instead, he hit Rojas’ fastball into the right-field bleachers.

“I never thought about a homer,” Liriano said. “I just wanted to hit the ball to the outfield, but a home run is even better.”

Said Rojas: “When things go bad, they go bad. I’ve got no control at all. That first pitch to Liriano, I tried to jam him, but that pitch was right there.”

The Dodgers made sure it didn’t go for naught when closer Todd Worrell shut down the Cubs in the ninth for his 11th save. Antonio Osuna, in his first game since being called up from triple-A Albuquerque, pitched 1 2/3 hitless innings for the victory.

There was no need to break out the champagne, but considering the woeful production from the bench the first six weeks, the Dodgers now believe they may be a complete team.

“We have a lot of experience and energy coming off our bench,” said Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president, “and you’re starting to see the contributions. Our production should get better.

“There’s no question we’ve struggled for runs, but I really believe that will change.”

After scoring the fewest runs in the major leagues this season, it can’t get any worse.

* MURDOCH: The media mogul confirmed his bid to buy the Dodgers for about $350 million. C5