Sheffield a Giant Help to Brown

SAN FRANCISCO — Gary Sheffield is upset and venting, and that’s bad news for the San Francisco Giants.

Especially for their pitchers.

Sheffield directed his frustration at the Giants and powered the Dodgers with two home runs Friday night in a 9-2 victory at Pacific Bell Park.

The all-star left fielder hit homers No. 26 and 27 to help the Dodgers win the first game of a nine-game trip before 40,930. Kevin Brown also played a big role--nothing new against San Francisco.

Brown (7-2) worked seven strong innings and improved to 8-1 with a 1.32 earned-run average against the Giants. He gave up six hits and two runs.

Sheffield’s performance made Brown’s work easier.

Sheffield expressed frustration Thursday after major league baseball upheld a five-game suspension ordered against him for his role in a May 16 brawl with fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

He had to be consoled by teammates, Brown among them, in the Dodger clubhouse after the decision was announced. Sheffield plans to appeal the appeal ruling because he said he was only helping his teammates in the melee in the stands.

Sheffield will get another day in court soon. Until then, the Dodgers’ opponents are on the hot seat.

“I just feel the whole thing was unfair,” said Sheffield, batting .337. “All I was trying to do was help my teammates, and then I’m suspended without anybody even talking to me and getting my side.

“Just by looking at the [videotape of the incident] and saying what my mentality is was wrong. I was probably the calmest guy on the field. I felt like I had nothing to be mad about, I was trying to help get my teammates out of danger.”

Sheffield helped them on the field Friday, as the Dodgers remained unbeaten at the Giants’ new park (4-0).

His fourth multi-homer game this season--and 19th of his career--came against Giant starter Russ Ortiz (4-8). Ortiz was chased after only 3 2/3 innings, and Sheffield’s performance hastened his exit.

Sheffield staked Brown to a 3-1 lead in the third with a leadoff homer. On a 2-2 count, Sheffield drove the ball over the wall in the left-field corner.

Ortiz had bigger problems with Sheffield in the fourth.

The Dodgers had runners on first and second with two out after Alex Cora doubled and Todd Hollandsworth walked. Sheffield hit Ortiz’s first pitch over the wall in left-center.

Sheffield is third in the National League in home runs, and holds the Los Angeles franchise record for the most homers before the All-Star break. He had already passed Mike Piazza, who hit 24 homers before the ’96 All-Star Game.

San Francisco Manager Dusty Baker removed Ortiz after he walked Shawn Green. The struggling right-hander gave up seven hits and six earned runs and his ERA ballooned to 6.93.

The Dodgers extended their lead to 8-2 in the sixth against reliever Mark Gardner. Mark Grudzielanek had a run-scoring double and Eric Karros a run-scoring single.

The Dodgers took a 2-0 lead in the first with some help from Ortiz. Grudzielanek singled with one out and then Ortiz got wild.

He walked Sheffield and Shawn Green to load the bases, and Karros’ sacrifice fly staked Brown to a 1-0 lead. The Dodgers scored their second run on Todd Hundley’s run-scoring double.

Sheffield made the biggest contribution offensively, but Hundley and Green played well too. Hundley hit his 15th homer--a solo shot--against Robb Nen in the ninth.

The switch-hitter crushed a 2-1 pitch, sending the ball over the right-field wall and into the water. Hundley, who also doubled twice and walked twice, became the first visiting player to hit a ball into the water. Barry Bonds hit the previous four homers that splashed.

Green established a career high with four walks. The Gold Glove right fielder also nailed Bill Mueller trying to go from first to third in the third.

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* BRAVES GET ROCKED

Rocker doesn’t pitch because of callous as Mets rally with a 10-run eighth inning. Page 7