[0] DODGERS SHAKE A'S WITH TWO IN THE 9TH : DODGERS 6, OAKLAND 4.

Byline: Kevin Acee Daily News Staff Writer

In the dugout, they laughed and pointed.

Up in his box, Fred Claire, the Dodgers' unexcitable executive vice president simply marked his scorebook as he always does.

``That's a good start,'' Claire said moments after Karim Garcia's first-inning single Friday gave the Dodgers an early lead and just their fourth run-producing hit by one of their left fielders this month. ``That's what we're looking for.''

The Dodgers got a few more things that have been rare of late, including a victory. On three walks (one intentional), two hits and a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning, they beat the A's 6-4 at the Oakland Coliseum to earn a split in their first interleague series.

In the eighth inning, Eric Karros, the player besides Todd Hollandsworth whose lack of production had been killing the Dodgers, gave them something they'd been looking for from him - a clutch hit - to tie the game 4-4.

Wilton Guerrero led off the 10th inning with a double, went to third on Brett Butler's sacrifice bunt and scored on Mike Piazza's double. Todd Zeile, who walked, scored the final run when Karros walked with the bases loaded.

They also got their first victory in a game started by Pedro Astacio since May 1, and Todd Worrell got his first save since May 26.

Not even 24 hours after the Dodgers recalled Garcia to replace Hollandsworth, the 1996 Rookie of the Year, the move paid dividends. Garcia, in his first major-league at-bat of the 1997 season, singled to left to score Zeile from third base and Piazza from second and give the Dodgers a 2-0 lead.

After being baffled by Astacio for four innings, the A's converted four hits into four runs in the fifth to take their own lead.

Raul Mondesi, 10 for 17 the last four games, singled to left field with one out in the eighth inning before A's pitcher Steve Karsay got ahead of Karros 0-2. But Karros slammed a chest-high fastball high out of left field.

Garcia, 21, was a bit surprised by the call-up.

Before the game, he said his only goal was to continue swinging like he was at Triple-A Albuquerque, where he had 56 RBI and a league-leading 18 home runs in 63 games.

Just like Roger Cedeno last month, Garcia started in his first game up. It was not the only similarity between the two young players who could join Mondesi in making up the Dodgers outfield of the future.

``They were truthful with me from the beginning,'' Garcia said of Claire and Dodgers manager Bill Russell. ``They told me they had too many outfielders, I was young, and I needed to work on some things.''

The Dodgers used the same tactic - honesty and tough love - with Cedeno after he grew frustrated in spring training. The two will start next to each other today in Seattle, as Butler will rest.

``It was the same thing with me,'' the 21-year-old Garcia said. ``You realize you're young, and you've got to wait for your chance.''

With the Dodgers searching for any cure to their offensive woes, especially a left-handed cure, Garcia will definitely get an opportunity to stick.

As is his way, Russell would not say whether he planned on playing Billy Ashley in left field on Sunday or any other time the Dodgers face a left-handed pitcher, continuing a platoon he had when Hollandsworth was on the team. But Ashley has it figured out.

``I don't foresee a platoon situation with Karim,'' Ashley said. ``I think he's up here to play.''

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Photo

Photo: (color) Dodgers' Karim Garcia, called up late Thursday, comes through with a two-run single to left in the first inning.

Associated Press