Players Support Clark

Players expressed support Monday for former Dodger batting instructor Jack Clark, shouldering responsibility for producing the fewest runs in the National League.

And although many expected Clark to be fired after the season because of the Dodgers’ ineptitude on offense, they were surprised at the timing.

Less than two months remain in the regular season, and the reeling team already had enough to worry about.

“You need to keep going because we’re still trying to make the playoffs and we have a lot of work to do, but this is definitely one of those unfortunate situations,” catcher Paul Lo Duca said. “Obviously, changes needed to be made with the way that we’ve been playing.

“We all feel that we can play better, get to the playoffs and have the type of season we want to have. That’s the goal, and we need to do anything that can help us pull ourselves out of this thing that we’ve been in lately. But it’s just unfortunate that Jack was the guy who had to go.”

General Manager Dan Evans and Manager Jim Tracy informed the third-year hitting coach of their decision Sunday at Dodger Stadium after a flight from Atlanta, where the team ended a 2-7 trip with an 8-4 victory over the Braves.

The Dodgers promoted triple-A batting instructor George Hendrick to serve as Clark’s interim replacement.

Although the Dodgers are last in the league in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, hits, walks, home runs, runs, runs batted in and total bases, players said Clark did his job well.

“He’s a great hitting coach, and he helped me out a lot, especially with the ups and downs,” right fielder Shawn Green said. “As a player, he went through it all, so he’s the one guy who definitely understood.

“I’m very disappointed about it. It’s not his fault that we’re not hitting. He’s doing his job. He’s not out there swinging the bat.”

As word spread about Sunday’s late-night coaching change, players present for previous purges under News Corp. hoped the firing of Clark would be the last in-season change.

“I feel responsible, and I think a lot of the guys on the team feel responsible, because we all have respect for Jack,” Lo Duca said. “We haven’t been playing and hitting the way we can, so he’s the odd man out.

“I’m going to miss him big time. He’s the kind of guy you look up to.”

Others agreed, saying Clark will be missed in the clubhouse.

“The thing about Jack is, he really cares,” Green said. “As much as anybody, he wants to see the offense succeed.”

Clark said he is hopeful the Dodgers experience a turnaround.

“Those players are like family to me, and we became close over the years, so I still want to see them do well,” said Clark, who plans to remain in coaching.

“Tommy Lasorda brought me into the organization, [former general manager] Kevin Malone gave me an opportunity and Jim Tracy did too. It just didn’t work out this year, and that’s the way it goes sometimes.”

*

An MRI exam confirmed starter Kazuhisa Ishii has a sprained left knee ligament, a team spokesman said. The left-hander, on the 15-day disabled list, is expected to sit out only two starts.

*

ON DECK

Opponent -- Cincinnati Reds, three games.

Site -- Dodger Stadium.

Tonight -- 7.

TV -- Fox Sports Net 2.

Radio -- KFWB (980), KWKW (1330).

Records -- Dodgers 55-55, Reds 51-60.

Record vs. Reds -- 1-2.

Wednesday, 7 p.m. -- Odalis Perez (6-9, 4.70) vs. Jose Acevedo (2-0, 2.63).

Thursday, 7 p.m. -- Hideo Nomo (12-9, 2.67) vs. Paul Wilson (6-8, 5.22).