[0] IT'S A NICE, QUIET WIN FOR DODGERS : DODGERS 5 PITTSBURGH 2.

Byline: Marc J. Spears Daily News Staff Writer

There was no shocking news to report Friday in the Dodgers' never-ending off-the-field soap opera. Nor was there any lackluster play or blown lead that has been the norm recently.

On this night, the Dodgers took care of business by simply doing something they have dreamed of for some time. Playing good, drama-free baseball.

Behind a rejuvenated and gutsy pitching performance from Chan Ho Park, the Dodgers won just their second game in their past seven outings with a 5-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in front of a sellout fireworks night crowd of 52,934 at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers, 4-1 against the Pirates this season, earned their largest margin of victory since a 5-0 triumph at Colorado almost a week-and-a-half ago.

It was just last Sunday that Park endured the worst outing of his major-league career that really got rolling in 1996. The right-hander allowed 10 runs on eight hits in 5-1/3 innings during a loss at Colorado, which was the last game for manager Bill Russell and general manager Fred Claire.

Despite Park's tough outing, new Dodgers pitching coach Charlie Hough didn't try to make any drastic changes with his pupil. Instead, the former knuckleballer told Park to relax, forget about Colorado and stop putting ``Opening Day pressure'' on himself.

In 6-2/3 innings, Park (6-5) did just that as he allowed two runs on 10 hits, one walk and struck out four. Park, who threw 120 pitches, won for just the second time in his past eight outings.

``It wasn't easy,'' Park said. ``It was a good win for me, us and the pitching staff.''

In the first, Kevin Young hit a two-out RBI single off Park that gave Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead. In the second, Park loaded the bases with no outs. However, a fielder's choice, a groundout and a popout by the Pirates helped him survive the jam.

``Chan Ho battled the whole game,'' Dodgers manager Glenn Hoffman said. ``The second inning was key. He turned it up a notch and kept us in the ballgame.''

``We just couldn't get the big hit,' Pirates manager Gene Lamont said. ``Especially in the second inning when we could've blown it open.''

Paul Konerko got his sixth hit in his past 11 at-bats with a two-run homer over the left-field fence off Pittsburgh starter Esteban Loaiza (5-4) in the second inning. The 22-year-old rookie's fourth home run of the season gave the Dodgers a 2-1 lead.

``This is the way I hit,'' said Konerko, 2 for 2 with two runs. ``I go up there and take balls and try to swing at good pitches. I'm just trying to do my best.''

Hoffman said: ``Konerko is coming along well. I have all the confidence in the world in him. People don't remember that he is still young, too.''

With the scored tied in the fourth, Dodgers regained the lead 3-2 when Konerko scored on a one-out RBI single by fellow rookie Adrian Beltre. In the fifth, the Dodgers pushed their advantage to 4-2 when Eric Young scored on a one-out sacrifice fly from Eric Karros.

After retiring the first two batters in the seventh, Park hit a batter and gave up a single. Hoffman opted for struggling reliever Scott Radinsky, who had blown five of his past six save opportunities and was welcomed with boos.

Radinsky didn't help matters as he loaded the bases by hitting pinch-hitter Mark Smith. But the Simi Valley High graduate struck out Aramis Ramirez to ruin the Pirates' second chance of capitalizing on a bases-loaded situation.

In the eighth, Tom Prince earned just his second RBI of the season with a two-out RBI double that pushed the Dodgers ahead 5-2 lead. Reliever Antonio Osuna finished the game by striking out Guillen to earn just his fourth save of the season.

``The bullpen did a tremendous job tonight and defense was the key,'' Hoffman said. ``When we needed to make the big plays, we did.''

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Photo

Photo: (Color) Dodgers shortstop Wilton Guerrero lays a tag on Pirates' Jason Kendall during the fifth inning.

Michael Caulfield/Associated Press