Dodgers Still Struggling at Halfway Point

SAN DIEGO — So much for the All-Star game, Chan Ho Park.

And for the Dodgers playing well in the first half.

Park was among the pitchers being considered for the National League team, but the right-hander probably won’t be selected after a rough outing Tuesday night in a 7-2 loss to the San Diego Padres in Qualcomm Stadium.

Park gave up six runs, five earned, in six innings as the Padres defeated the Dodgers for the sixth time in their last seven games in Qualcomm before a crowd of 51,285.

Padre starter Matt Clement (8-7) worked as if he had an All-Star invitation on the line.

The right-hander overcame early problems in the longest outing of his career--a 134-pitch, 8 1/3-inning performance.

Clement gave up only a two-out, fourth-inning single to Adrian Beltre until pinch-hitter Dave Hansen singled leading off the eighth. He retired the side in order in the fifth, sixth and seventh, and got three quick outs after Hansen’s hit in the eighth.

Clement received a standing ovation when he was relieved by Donne Wall in the ninth with one out and two on, and Beltre grounded into a game-ending double play.

The Dodgers dropped to 41-40 at the halfway mark. They have lost three in a row and nine of 12.

Team officials expected more from Park on Tuesday--and from the struggling club to this point.

“I’m still proud of this club. . . . I’m proud of what they gave me in the first half,” Manager Davey Johnson said. “We had a lot of adversity hanging over us in the first half.

“We’ve just got to put together well-pitched games. That’s going to be the key for us in the second half.”

Park (9-5) didn’t deliver Tuesday.

After striking out six in three scoreless innings, he struggled with his command in the final three innings he worked as the Padres (37-45) took charge.

The Padres scored three runs in the fourth--on Bret Boone’s two-run single and Ruben Rivera’s run-scoring double--to take the lead for good after the Dodgers staked Park to a 2-0 lead on Chad Kreuter’s solo homer and Shawn Green’s run-scoring single.

“I made good pitches . . . it was just hard luck,” said Park, whose earned-run average increased from 4.17 to 4.34.

“I threw inside, which is good, but [some] of the base hits went to the holes. I pitched pretty good.”

Park struck out eight, but gave up seven hits, walked two and threw two wild pitches in his first loss after victories in five consecutive decisions.

Officials from major league baseball last week told the Dodgers that Park would be selected for the All-Star game if he pitched well Tuesday.

Park believes he did. The Dodgers disagreed.

“Sometimes, he’s a mystery to me,” said Johnson, perplexed by the mercurial pitcher. “Chan Ho looked like he had good stuff, but he just didn’t make good pitches when he had to.

“It looked like he quit hitting his spots and quit locating his pitches. It wasn’t very pretty.”

It hasn’t been for the Dodgers either, and Chairman Bob Daly will make changes unless things improve. Quickly.

“We’re obviously not where we want to be,” first baseman Eric Karros said. “But the first half is behind us, and we know what we have to do to improve and get things going.”

*

Rodriguez Brightest Star of All

Ivan Rodriguez received the most votes for the All-Star team, ending Ken Griffey Jr.’s streak. Page 5

Fast Start for Gilkey

Bernard Gilkey, signed earlier in the day, led Boston to a 14-4 victory. Page 4

Lima Still Can’t Win

Jose Lima fell to 1-13 in Houston’s 10-4 loss to Arizona.

Page 5