Clark, Evans Clear Air

DENVER —  Batting instructor Jack Clark, whose recent comments about the struggling Dodgers angered many in management, said Sunday he believes the situation finally has been resolved after “a very good conversation” with General Manager Dan Evans.

Clark said he clarified his comments about the team having internal problems, including the failure of high-priced players to produce consistently, in a lengthy phone conversation Friday night with Evans, who in turn answered questions Clark had about the direction of the franchise and Clark’s individual situation.

Through a team spokesman, Evans, in meetings in Chicago on Sunday, also said the matter was closed. Clark expressed relief.

“Some of my frustrations were because of a lot of the ways things were handled personally with me, where I was told things were going to happen for me, and they never [did],” Clark said. “The reasons why? I never knew. All I knew was, I just never got phone calls returned. I never got answers for things, for what was going on, so I could make decisions in my own life.

“But Danny kind of opened up to me and explained some of the reasons; the health [problems] he was having in his family, and some different things he had going on from the move from Chicago. There was a lot of stuff I wasn’t aware of. He came out and said he made mistakes and he learned. I actually felt bad after I got done talking to him, because there were so many things I didn’t know. It gave you the ability to understand the plan a little bit more.”

Clark thought the matter had been put to rest after his initial meeting Wednesday with Evans and Manager Jim Tracy. But Evans, especially troubled that Clark broached the topic of Clark’s possible firing because of the team’s offensive ineptitude, told reporters he planned to have a follow-up discussion. Evans also declined to comment on whether Clark’s job was in jeopardy.

“I’m sure it upset Danny, and probably some other people in the organization, but I also had people call me up and say something needed to be done,” Clark said. “I said some things, and I got some calls from people saying something needed to be said. I’m not going to say any names, but these were people in the organization. And these were high-ranking people.”

In the second half, it’s all about accountability for the Dodgers, Clark said.

“The bottom line is, we need to get the job done out on the field,” he said. “And if we’re not getting the job done, if the offense is not getting the job done, and I’m responsible for the offense, then I should be held accountable.”

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Paul Lo Duca put a scare into the Dodgers in the fifth inning of Sunday’s 9-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, suffering a sprained left knee and bruised back while slamming into the padded wall down the left-field line.

Lo Duca, who started in left, sprinted toward the line in an attempt to catch Todd Helton’s slicing drive. Trying to make the play as the ball landed foul, Lo Duca hit his left knee on the pad and his right ankle on concrete under the padded area.

“I’ll live,” said Lo Duca, who had a large bruise on his back from sliding. “Obviously, it doesn’t feel too great, but I kept playing, so I felt I was all right. I just didn’t see the wall, and the ball kept fading and fading on me.”

Lo Duca sprang to his feet and hobbled briefly before falling to the ground in pain. He remained in the game after being examined by trainer Matt Wilson and finished 0 for 4.

Lo Duca, selected to his first All-Star team, said he still plans to participate in Tuesday’s game at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago.

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Third baseman Adrian Beltre had an outstanding trip, going 10 for 28 with five runs batted in. “I’ve been feeling a lot more comfortable,” he said. “Everybody has been swinging the bat lately, so maybe this will get us going in the second half.” ... With his 665th appearance Sunday, reliever Paul Quantrill established a record for appearances by a Canadian pitcher.... Reliever Guillermo Mota extended his scoreless innings streak to 18 2/3.