Dodgers explode for 11 runs in victory over San Fransisco

SAN FRANCISCO - For two innings, Chan Ho Park was in control and as it turned out that was all the Los Angeles Dodgers needed.

Three relievers took care of the rest with an offensive assist from Delino DeShields, who led off the game with a homer and singled and doubled during a seven-run fourth inning in the Dodgers' 11-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday.

''It was a good day,'' said DeShields, who went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a walk after starting the game hitting .210. ''Today we finally came up with some hits in situations where he haven't in the past. We've had opportunities but we haven't been capi talizing. Today, we did.''

Park, who struck out the side in the first and second innings, combined with the relievers to strike out 14. Antonio Osuna (1-2) and Joey Eischen both pitched three scoreless innings, and Todd Worrell worked the ninth.

Park, whose second career start was broadcast back to his native South Korea, dominated in the first two innings. But he started the third with four straight walks, forcing in the Giants' first run on a bases-loaded walk to Barry Bonds.

''He just lost control,'' Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda said. ''His first two outings, he was outstanding. This time, he couldn't get the ball over the plate.''

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Padres 11, Rockies 6

DENVER - Rickey Henderson may need to read up on Wally Pipp.

Pipp sat out a game with the New York Yankees in 1925 with a headache and lost his job forever to Lou Gehrig. Henderson has missed the last three games with a strained rib cage, and Marc Newfield has been superb as his replacement.

Newfield had four hits and four RBI - both career highs - to power the San Diego Padres past the Colorado Rockies 11-6 on Wednesday.

Newfield's three-run homer in the fourth helped the Padres jump out to an 8-2 lead.

Newfield went 8-for-13 in the three-game series with two homers and seven RBIs.

''I feel like I just needed an opportunity to get more at-bats,'' Newfield said. ''It's tough to break in with this outfield (Henderson, Tony Gwynn and Steve Finley). I know I'm not going to play much even if they are healthy. I've got to accept being a s pot starter and pinch hitter.''

Padres manager Bruce Bochy said Newfield ''can flat-out hit. I'd like to see him get 200 to 300 at-bats. But where is he going to get them?''

Asked if Newfield might crack the starting lineup even when Henderson and Gwynn are healthy, Bochy said, ''That will be a tough decision. I'll put that off until I have to make it.''

For the second straight game, the Padres got hitting production from their starting pitcher. On the heels of Andy Ashby's 4-for-4 effort Tuesday night, Sean Bergman had a two-run single.

Newfield had an RBI double in the eighth and Brad Ausmus drove in the 11th run on a fielder's choice grounder.

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Cubs 8, Reds 6

CHICAGO - Less than 48 hours earlier, Sammy Sosa was whiffing at the wind, striking out five times in one game.

On Wednesday he was taking his familiar home run trot around the bases - not once but twice - to lead the Chicago Cubs to an 8-6 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

''Monday night was tough for me but people who play every day are going to strike out. I just went out today with a different attitude,'' said Sosa, who hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th off Johnny Ruffin (0-1) to beat the Reds on Wednesday.

''I'm trying to make contact and whatever pitches he throws, that's no problem,'' said Sosa, who now has four homers. ''I kept my head down, laid off the bad pitches and when he threw my pitch, I hit it.''

Sosa's game-winner came after Mark Grace led off the 10th with a walk. His first homer came in the third off Kevin Jarvis and carried well out of Wrigley Field.

''It went a long way. Usually if they scrape the bottom of the fence, it's good enough for me. But that first one got my attention. It had a chance to hit the building,'' Cubs manager Jim Riggleman said. ''Sammy's a heck of a player. He was just frustrate d the other night in the first night game here.''

Turk Wendell (1-0) pitched two hitless innings of relief for the win.

Jeff Branson tripled twice for the Reds, who had three errors.

''We played horrible defense,'' said Reds manager Ray Knight. ''We missed grounders at second and short. This is a major league team and we shouldn't make those kind of errors. In the future we won't.''

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Astros 7, Mets 5

NEW YORK - Jeff Bagwell hit a three-run homer and an RBI double, and Derek Bell had a solo homer as Houston swept a two-game series from New York 7-5 on yesterdayday.

Darryl Kile (1-2), who struggled through 6 2-3 innings, was the winner. He yielded nine hits, including solo HRs by Bernard Gilkey and Rico Brogna, and four runs while striking out four and walking two.

Todd Jones, the third Astros pitcher, earned his third save and second in the series.

The Mets also had a leadoff home run by Todd Hundley in the eighth inning that completed the game's scoring.

Paul Wilson (0-1), in his third major league start, lasted only 2 1-3 innings, giving up five runs on as many hits while walking four and striking out none. He also hit two batters.

Brian Hunter walked to open the game, and Wilson hit Craig Biggio, setting the stage for Bagwell's sixth homer.

Lance Johnson's leadoff single in the Mets first, a fielder's choice and Butch Huskey's double cut the Astros lead to 3-1. Hundley singled to start the second, and one out later, Rey Ordonez and Wilson had consecutive singles, scoring Hundley to get New Y ork within 3-2.

Houston moved in front 5-3 with two runs in the fifth as eight players batted. Singles by Rick Wilkins and Sean Berry and Derrick May's double accounted for the first run. Orlando Miller followed with a fielder's choice as Berry was thrown out at home on a bouncer to short.

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Brewers 8, Yankees 4

MILWAUKEE - Jose Valentin hasn't been his reliable self in the field this season. Thankfully for the Milwaukee Brewers, he hasn't been his usual self at the plate, either.

Valentin made his seventh error Wednesday but matched his career high with four RBIs, and the Brewers chased David Cone early in an 8-4 victory over the New York Yankees for a sweep of their two-game series.

Valentin, who got three hits right-handed Tuesday night, went 2-for-4 from the left side Wednesday with a two-run double off Cone and a two-run single off Mariano Rivera. He raised his batting average to .341 - 113 points higher than his career average.

''We're getting a lot more out of him offensively than anyone expected and probably not as much defensively as everybody expected,'' Brewers manager Phil Garner said. ''But he's still going to win ballgames for you.''