Hansen Has Big Hit for Brown

Dave Hansen doesn’t get many starting opportunities for the Dodgers because that’s a pinch-hitter’s life.

Hansen made the most of another chance Wednesday.

He started at third base and hit a key three-run home run in a 9-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium.

Hansen, starting for Adrian Beltre, broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth with a shot to right field against Colorado starter Rolando Arrojo.

He sent Arrojo’s pitch into the visitors’ bullpen after Shawn Green and Eric Karros had consecutive one-out singles, making things easier for Dodger starter Kevin Brown.

Not that Brown needed much help.

The right-hander was sharp after being forced from his previous start because of shoulder stiffness. He overwhelmed the Rockies in eight impressive innings despite continuing discomfort.

Brown (9-3) gave up only Larry Walker’s first-inning single and an unearned run in the inning--the Dodgers committed two errors. He struck out eight and was in command in a typical performance for him.

The Dodgers batted around in the eighth and broke the game open against reliever Stan Belinda after Arrojo (5-8) worked seven solid innings.

Chris Donnels, whose contract was purchased from triple-A Albuquerque before the game, contributed with a run-scoring double pinch-hitting for Brown in his first Dodger at-bat.

Mike Fetters walked two but pitched a scoreless ninth as the Dodgers (48-45) took the first game of the two-game series before 26,889.

It was a good night for the Dodgers after Hansen filled in well. Again.

“I just felt like it could be advantageous for our ballclub to use another left-handed batter in our lineup against [the right-handed] Arrojo,” said interim manager Jim Tracy, filling in while Davey Johnson recovers from an irregular heart rhythm. “It worked.”

Indeed.

Hansen is second on the club’s all-time pinch-hit list. He has four pinch homers this season, establishing a Los Angeles franchise record with nine overall.

His first homer in a starting assignment gave Brown a three-run cushion against the Rockies (47-45), who had won two games in a row after dropping 11 straight.

“It just feels good,” said Hansen, replaced by Beltre in the eighth. “It was nice to get some consecutive at-bats.

“The home run was nice, but just seeing those pitches was better. For me as a role player, consecutive at-bats are very important to help me prepare.”

The Rockies said there was nothing they could have done to prepare for Brown, who walked one while throwing 70 strikes in 104 pitches.

“The way he was throwing tonight, it would have been awfully hard to beat them no matter what we did,” Colorado Manager Buddy Bell said. “He’s a great pitcher. He can make up stuff as he goes along.”

Brown acknowledged that his shoulder isn’t 100%.

“It was stiff, but I got through it,” he said. “You just work through it.”

The Dodgers tied the score, 1-1, in the third on Gary Sheffield’s run-scoring single.

Mark Grudzielanek, returning to the starting lineup after battling a viral infection, doubled with one out against Arrojo for the Dodgers’ first hit. Sheffield then singled to center, driving in his ninth run since the All-Star break.

Grudzielanek sat out six games with the virus that he said team physicians were unable to diagnose. He pinch hit twice and played a little at second base, but he said that wasn’t enough.

Grudzielanek persuaded Tracy and club medical personnel that he was ready to play nine innings. He finally returned to batting second in the order, and that gave him the biggest boost of all.

“No question about it, I needed to get out there and start playing again,” said Grudzielanek, batting .299 after going one for five.

“I’m comfortable and I felt strong enough. I needed some [at-bats]. This pinch-hitting stuff is not for me.”

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JOHNSON GOES HOME

Manager is released from the hospital and is expected to be back on the job soon.

Page 5

RINGING IN A MET WIN

Bell makes a big throw and adds some insurance at plate in New York’s third victory in a row.

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