[0] KARROS DOUBLES FUN FOR DODGERS : DODGERS 9 COLORADO 6.

Byline: Brian Dohn Daily News Staff Writer

They have won a pitcher's duel, won another game with their bullpen picking up a starter. They have come from behind late and rallied in the middle innings.

Through the first week of the season the Dodgers have won in different ways.

But there's no way to explain the Dodgers' 9-6 win against the Colorado Rockies on Friday at a cold Dodger Stadium.

Eric Karros and Devon White tied career-highs with four hits apiece. Karros also tied a Dodgers record with three doubles, the third of which scored Todd Hundley to give the Dodgers a 6-4 lead in the seventh.

It turned out to be a big inning for the Dodgers. Karros stole third, and after Mike DeJean relieved Chuck McElroy and walked Adrian Beltre, Jacob Brumfield's infield single plated Karros to make it 7-4. Pinch-hitter Dave Hansen continued his hot start with a single to right to score Beltre with the Dodgers' eighth run and Raul Mondesi added a sacrifice fly in the eighth for a 9-5 lead.

``You can't get caught up in a good game, a good two games, a good three games,'' Karros said. ``I don't think anyone has gotten caught up in anything. We haven't won anything yet.''

If not for Dodgers closer Jeff Shaw snaring a Vinny Castilla liner and turning it into a double play in the ninth, the Dodgers might not have won this one. Instead, they followed up their only loss of the season with their fourth win and evened the four-game series at a win apiece.

Of course, it took five Dodgers pitchers and 3 hours, 24 minutes to get there.

``It kind of seemed like the never-ending game,'' Karros said. ``It seemed like we were in good shape when we took a 5-1 lead and they came back.''

The Dodgers pounded out 17 hits, including six doubles, and took a 9-5 lead into the ninth inning.

Dodgers manager Davey Johnson was hoping for a ho-hum finish, but the Rockies knocked Alan Mills from the game with a Neifi Perez single and a Mike Kelly RBI double. Dante Bichette's infield single put the tying run at the plate with none out, which is when Castilla lined a slider back to Shaw.

``He hit if off the end of the bat so I had time, and it wasn't too far from me,'' Shaw said. ``My first instinct was to look to first, and (Castilla) was off the base.''

Shaw then struck out Thursday's home run hero Todd Helton to record his second save.

``It was survival instinct,'' Johnson said. ``I was trying to slide and not go to my closer in a non-close situation. I'm not one to create a save situation.''

No, but four other Dodgers pitchers could.

It began with Darren Dreifort (1-0). He won in his season debut, though it was laborsome at times. He allowed three hits and three runs (two earned) and struck out seven, but he wasn't very pitch-efficient. He threw 98 pitches (54 strikes) in five innings.

The reliable Dodgers bullpen didn't fare that much better. Johnson also went to Dave Mlicki, Pedro Borbon and Alan Mills, but each allowed a run in a combined three innings.

Fortunately for the Dodgers, the offense played its best game to date. Karros and Devon White each had four hits, pacing a 17-hit attack that built leads of 5-1 and 9-5.

After getting four hits in the series opener, the Dodgers knocked Rockies starter John Thomson (0-1) out of the fourth inning.

``I feel good about the way our offense is going,'' Johnson said. ``We were able to do that without (Gary) Sheffield.''

Sheffield missed the game because of a sore right hip. He's hoping to play today, but the new mini-concern for Johnson is second baseman Eric Young's left heel. Young hurt the heel in the fifth fourth inning when he was rounding third before being held.

Young scored on a base hit by Devon White to give the Dodgers the 5-1 lead, and remained in the game. But afterward Johnson expressed concern about Young's status for today.

Team physical therapist Pat Screnar said Young had no swelling in his heel, but the Dodgers' leadoff hitter would be evaluated today.

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Photo

Photo: (Color) Dodgers' Devon White makes it into third as Colorado's Vinny Castilla searches for the ball in the third inning.

Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press