It’s Park to Rescue Again

He has been steady and spectacular, displaying every bit of ability the Dodgers believed he had.

He has been a calming presence during some recent rocky moments.

But Chan Ho Park is becoming something more than the Dodgers figured on at this point in his career. He is becoming a stopper.

For the second time in as many outings Saturday night, the third-year pitcher gave his team a boost with a strong outing, leading to a 5-3 victory over Cincinnati before a sellout crowd of 53,464 at Dodger Stadium.

Park pitched six strong innings and was supported with standout relief by Antonio Osuna and closer Todd Worrell, who earned his 29th save by pitching a 1-2-3 ninth. The victory moved the Dodgers within 1 1/2 games of San Francisco in the NL West.

Late Saturday the Dodgers reinstated outfielder Todd Hollandsworth from the 15-day disabled list and optioned Wayne Kirby to triple-A Albuquerque.

“Chan Ho had the stomach flu yesterday; we weren’t even sure he would be able to pitch,” Dodger Manager Bill Russell said.

“Pitching is so huge this time of year. Chan Ho really showed what he was made of.”

Park (12-6) pitched the first complete game of his career in his last outing, a 2-1 victory over Chicago on Monday after the Dodgers had lost two consecutive games to the Reds. The Dodgers lost, 5-3, to the Reds on Friday, and Park came back with another strong outing.

The right-hander gave up six hits and three runs, all on Eduardo Perez’s sixth-inning homer. He struck out eight to increase his season total to 129.

Park has been one of the Dodgers’ most consistent pitchers. He has been impressive since Ramon Martinez went on the disabled list June 15, and Russell has learned to rely on him.

“I thought about what would happen if I didn’t pitch today. Maybe something bad would happen to the team,” said Park, who still felt sick before the game.

“But I tried my best.”

The Dodgers scored all their runs in the third inning thanks to their power and the Reds’ misfortune. There was a lot of both in the inning.

Rookie Adam Riggs opened the inning with a single against Red starter Kent Mercker. Then the left-hander, who seemed to be struggling in pain, walked Park.

After watching Mercker (8-9) go to a 1-and-0 count on Otis Nixon, Manager Jack McKeon--and the entire infield--had a conference at the mound. Mercker left soon after with what was diagnosed as tightness in his lower back.

“When I through that ball, I said to myself, ‘I’m not helping anyone,’ ” Mercker said. “But it’s tough to come out after only two innings.”

It proved to be even tougher for the Reds.

Right-hander Richie Lewis replaced Mercker. Lewis, who has pitched for five teams, seemed rattled from the moment he entered the game.

Nixon laid down a good bunt that Lewis fielded on the grass in front of home plate. But Lewis threw wildly to first and the ball eluded second baseman Bret Boone, allowing Riggs and Park to score and Nixon to take third.

On a 0-and-1 count, Roger Cedeno hit his third home run of the season into the right-field pavilion for a 4-0 lead.

And a spectator in the pavilion got another souvenir when Mike Piazza followed with his 27th home run, slightly to the left of where Cedeno’s landed.

Piazza’s homer marked the seventh time the Dodgers have hit back-to-back home runs this season.

Piazza, sixth in the league in home runs when the game began, showed his defensive skills too. He made a nice, sliding catch on a pop-up hit by Perez in the fourth.

Park got tired in the sixth and the Reds got to him.

Leadoff hitter Deion Sanders, who stole his league-leading 56th base in the third, beat a throw from shortstop Greg Gagne for an infield hit. Chris Stynes singled to left with one out and then Park went to a full count on Perez.

Perez hit his 12th homer into the left-field seats. But Park retired the next two batters to end his work for the evening.