Hollandsworth Back From Albuquerque

Outfielder Todd Hollandsworth, demoted to the minors June 12, was recalled after Sunday’s 10-4 victor over the San Diego Padres. Outfielder Karim Garcia, hitless in his last 14 at-bats, was optioned to Albuquerque.

Hollandsworth, the 1996 rookie of the year, was optioned after his average fell 59 points from last season. Hollandsworth, who batted .232 with 11 doubles, one triple, two home runs and 18 RBIs in 60 games with the Dodgers, batted .429 with four doubles, three triples, one home run and 14 RBIs in 13 games at Albuquerque.

Manager Bill Russell said Hollandsworth will start tonight’s game against the Texas Rangers at Dodger Stadium.

“Obviously, Hollandsworth went down for a reason and he’s worked that out,� Russell said. “The main thing is he went down with a good attitude and got his confidence back.�

Dodger catcher Mike Piazza believes being sent down may have helped Hollandsworth.

“Sometimes it takes a situation like that to revitalize you,� Piazza said. “It probably was a big gut check for him. When you get back here you realize how lucky you are to be in the major leagues.�

Garcia, who had a two-run single in his first at-bat, hadn’t been pressing.

“I’m disappointed, but I understand what happened,� said Garcia, who hit .128 with one home run, eight RBIs and 13 strikeouts in 39 at-bats. “I wasn’t doing my job. They expect some things from me and I couldn’t really make the adjustment over here.�

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Right fielder Raul Mondesi sat out the game because of a sore left shoulder. Mondesi, who is day to day, said he doubts he’ll play tonight. . . . Padre center fielder Steve Finley left the game in the sixth inning because of a groin injury, suffered when he slid while trying to make a diving catch of Piazza’s sinking line-drive single. He’s day to day.

ON DECK

* Opponent--Texas Rangers (two games).

* Site--Dodger Stadium.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--FX tonight, Channel 5 Tuesday.

* Radio--KABC (790), KWKW (1330).

* Records--Dodgers 39-41. Rangers 38-39 .

* Record vs. Rangers--First meeting.

TONIGHT’S GAME

DODGERS’ ISMAEL VALDES (4-8, 3.18 ERA) vs. RANGERS’ BOBBY WITT (8-4, 4.01 ERA)

* Update--The Dodgers are 3-3 in interleague play. Valdes ended a three-game losing streak with a 2-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, giving up four hits with eight strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings. He already has lost more games than he did last season, when he lost seven of 33 starts. Tom Candiotti will make his third start Tuesday since replacing injured starter Ramon Martinez (shoulder) in the rotation. After a shutting out the San Francisco Giants for seven innings in an 11-0 victory June 21, Candiotti retired 10 of the last 13 batters he faced in a 9-7 loss to the Padres on Thursday. Will Clark, Rusty Greer and Ivan Rodriguez have combined for a .345 average, but the rest of the Rangers are batting .242. Rodriguez is the American League’s third-leading hitter with .353 batting average. Clark, whose 11-game hitting streak ended Friday, is batting .345 and Greer is hitting .337. The Rangers are 2-7 in their last nine games.

* Tuesday, 7 p.m.--Candiotti (4-2, 2.76 ERA) vs. Julio Santana (3-3, 6.03 ERA).