For the Second Day in a Row, Everything Is Right for Dodgers

NEW YORK — The Dodgers are enjoying their time in the Big Apple, playing uncharacteristically well on the big stage.

The disappointing ballclub followed an improbable comeback victory over the Mets with a surprising 14-3 romp Sunday afternoon at Shea Stadium.

The Dodgers got two home runs and five runs batted in from struggling right fielder Raul Mondesi, and another homer from pitcher Darren Dreifort among 14 hits. Dreifort pitched one of his best games, and first baseman Eric Karros drove in four runs to help the Dodgers earn back-to-back victories against the National League East leaders after dropping the first game of the four-game series.

The Dodgers overwhelmed the once red-hot Mets by scoring four runs in the second and five in the fifth to take a commanding 9-1 lead before a crowd of 39,803. That after rallying from an early four-run deficit Saturday in a stirring 7-6 victory.

Conversely, the Mets were awful. Things were so bad that Manager Bobby Valentine used utilityman Matt Franco to pitch the ninth after four Met pitchers failed to slow the Dodgers. The right-hander gave up a hit, a run and walked three in his second career relief appearance.

New York maintained a half-game lead over the Atlanta Braves in the division, though that wasn’t reason to celebrate after their performance against the Dodgers in the last two games. For the Dodgers, consecutive victories are a reason to celebrate these days.

“Dreifort was just overpowering today,” Manager Davey Johnson said, “and he didn’t swing a bad bat either.”

Dreifort provided the big blow in the four-run second inning with a three-run homer to center field against Masato Yoshii, marking his first homer of the season and the second of his five-year career. Then Mondesi finally provided what the Dodgers have eagerly awaited.

He powered the team in the fifth, hitting a three-run homer as the Dodgers batted around. Then Mondesi hit a two-run shot in the seventh to push the Dodger lead to 11-1.

Mondesi’s blasts marked the 12th multihomer game of his career and fourth this season. With his 23rd and 24th homers, Mondesi moved within one of team-leader Karros. Moreover, the homers were only Mondesi’s fifth and sixth since the end of May.

“I’ve been working with [coach] Manny [Mota] and [batting coach] Rick Down the last two days, just trying to swing the bat and be patient,” said Mondesi, who went homerless in 112 at-bats during one stretch.

“The way I swung the bat today was the way I’m supposed to swing the bat. I know I haven’t swung the bat well [since May], but we’ve still got [51] games left. I just have to keep working hard.”

Mondesi declined the opportunity to try to hit three homers because he did not want to face the wild Franco.

“With Franco pitching? No way,” said Mondesi, who was removed for a pinch-hitter in the ninth.

Mondesi’s big game would have been enough good news for Johnson, but Dreifort’s performance made his day.

Many of Dreifort’s critics have suggested recently that the young right-hander is best suited to relieve because he often struggles the second time through batting orders. However, Dreifort (9-11) worked 6 1/3 strong innings in ending his three-start losing streak.

He gave up only two runs (one earned) while mixing a moving fastball with sharp breaking pitches. Dreifort struck out seven and walked only one during one of the most efficient outings of his brief time in the starting rotation.

“That’s what I’m looking for,” Johnson said. “If I can see that consistently from him, going after guys, pitch efficiency, making things happen, that shows me a lot.

“He’s certainly making a statement with that type of performance. And that’s the type of statement I like to see.”