Karros’ Single Completes Rally

Eric Karros’ two-out, run-scoring single provided the difference in the Dodgers’ 5-4, 10-inning victory over the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium.

Karros--whose 22nd home run in the seventh accounted for the Dodgers’ first run--singled to left on a 2-2 count against Matt Whiteside, driving in Mark Grudzielanek from second with the winning run before 41,897. The key hit, after Karros was knocked down by Whiteside, helped the Dodgers (39-36) end a five-game losing streak on the day veteran pitcher Orel Hershiser was put on waivers.

“It was quite a game,� Manager Davey Johnson said. “[Karros] usually doesn’t start real well, but he’s been really tearing it up this year with [Todd] Hundley behind him.

“He really likes it with [Shawn] Green in front of him. There were a lot of guys out there for him tonight and he delivered.�

Mike Fetters (3-0) pitched a scoreless 10th for the victory.

Hundley, the switch-hitting catcher, tied the score, 4-4, with a leadoff home run--his 14th homer--in the ninth against Padre closer Trevor Hoffman. Batting left-handed, Hundley homered just inside the right-field foul pole on an 0-2 pitch.

Hundley was playing in only his second game since being activated from the disabled list Monday.

The Dodgers, who rallied from a 3-0 deficit, were playing the game under protest because Padre Manager Bruce Bochy went to the mound twice in the eighth to visit pitcher Kevin Walker and removed him with Karros coming to the plate. Under baseball rule 8.06c, Walker should have faced Karros before Bochy removed him for Hoffman.

The Padres had taken a 4-3 lead in the eighth on Bret Boone’s run-scoring single. Boone singled to left with one out against Matt Herges, driving in Ryan Klesko. Herges struggled after relieving Antonio Osuna, walking Klesko and giving up two singles in the inning.

Eric Gagne pitched six solid innings in the no-decision. He filled the spot formerly occupied by Hershiser on the 25-man roster.

Reliever Carlos Reyes gave up a seventh-inning, two-run, pinch-hit home run to Dave Hansen that tied the score, 3-3. Karros also hit his 22nd homer in the seventh to help the Dodgers rally.

Gagne’s teammates didn’t provide much support while he was in the game. Padre right-hander Will Cunnane cruised through six scoreless innings after being staked to a 3-0 lead, but the Dodgers tied the score in the seventh while chasing Cunnane.

Karros homered to left-center on Cunnane’s first pitch in the seventh, and pinch-hitter Hansen pulled the Dodgers even with a two-run shot to right against Reyes.

Klesko hit a two-out, solo home run in the first, and the Padres extended their lead 3-0 on Kevin Nicholson’s bases-loaded, two-run single in the fourth. The Dodgers squandered several scoring opportunities until their three-run seventh.

Karros, who has 63 runs batted in, opened the inning with a solo shot into the left-field pavilion seats estimated at 442 feet. The big blast got the crowd back into the game after Cunnane had controlled the Dodgers through six innings, giving up only three hits.

But Cunnane, recalled from the minor leagues Monday, appeared to run out of gas in his 100-pitch outing.

Gagne was 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA in two starts for Albuquerque after being optioned June 13. Except for two innings Tuesday, Gagne was sharp again.

Gagne gave up three hits and three runs. He struck out two and walked three, and used his pitches more efficiently.

The Dodgers wanted Gagne to work on his command at Albuquerque because he was throwing too many pitches early in games. On Tuesday, Gagne threw 53 strikes in 94 pitches, not bad for six innings.

“Gagne was rushing it at first. He got ahead of himself,� Johnson said. “Then he righted himself and threw the ball much better. He could have gone seven, maybe even eight. We’re really glad to have him back and pitching well.�

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

CHAN HO PARK

(9-4, 4.10 ERA)

vs.

PADRES’

ADAM EATON

(1-0, 2.84 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7.

TV--Fox Sports Net 2. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

* Update--Park is 5-0 with a 2.81 ERA in his last six starts. The right-hander has given up three earned runs or less in 12 of 16 starts this season. Park is 5-4 with a 3.78 ERA in 14 career appearances against the Padres. Eaton is making his sixth big league start. The rookie right-hander has no-decisions in his last four outings.