[0] LEYRITZ PROVES HIS WORTH LATE; FORMER YANKEE SHOWS DODGERS HOW TO WIN IN THE NINTH INNING WITH A CLUTCH RBI SINGLE DODGERS 5, SAN DIEGO 4.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

It took a week of sitting on the bench and waiting for the chance. And waiting and waiting and waiting.

But Jim Leyritz finally got a chance to provide a big hit, and he did just that in his fifth at-bat as a Dodger.

Leyritz crushed one of his former teams by delivering a game-winning, two-out single to score Shawn Gilbert in the bottom of the ninth and give the Dodgers a 5-4 win against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday.

Winning close games late is where it counts and the Dodgers haven't done it enough this season. Maybe things are changing after their second straight one-run win.

The Dodgers are 4-6 in games tied after eight innings. They're 10-11 in one-run games, 6-7 in two-run games and 4-3 in extra innings.

A year ago they were 21-27 in one-run games, 12-16 in two-run games and 4-12 in extra inning games. They were 4-8 in games tied after eight innings. By comparison, the World Series champ Yankees were 22-12 in one-run games last season and 7-2 in extra innings.

Chad Kreuter started the game-winning rally by drawing a walk off reliever Steve Montgomery, making his season debut. Gilbert pinch-ran and moved to second on Alex Cora's single to right. Pinch-hitter Todd Hundley flew out to center, but Leyritz's hit reliever Kevin Walker's 1-2 pitch into the left field corner.

Terry Adams (3-3) pitched two perfect innings of relief for the win.

Dodgers right-hander Chan Ho Park, who leads the National League with 66 walks, had more problems finding the plate but continues to show his increasing maturity as a pitcher. He walked four and hit a batters but held it together enough to pitch seven innings for sixth time in 10 starts. He allowed four runs on six hits and struck out eight.

San Diego starter Adam Eaton allowed four runs on five hits in seven innings.

For the second night in a row the Padres jumped out to a quick lead only to watch the Dodgers rally.

Park was in trouble early as Ryan Klesko doubled to put runners on second and third with one out. Phil Nevin followed with a single through the middle to give the Padres a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

Todd Hollandsworth, who usually homers in the first inning or not at all, broke away from his normal pattern in the third inning when he hammered Adam Eaton's 3-2 pitch over the fence in left field to tie it 2-2. It was Hollandsworth seventh homer of the season, five of which have led off a game.

The Dodgers took a 4-2 lead an inning later on Eric Karros' second homer in as many days. Karros hit a 2-1 fastball for two-run to left-center. It was his 23rd homer and gave him 65 RBI, both second on the club to Gary Sheffield.

But Park couldn't make the lead hold up. Singles by Martin and Klesko put runners on the corners with none out in the fifth, and the Padres pulled within 4-3 on Bret Boone's sacrifice fly to right field.

San Diego tied it 4-4 an inning later when Park had control problems. He got the first two outs off the sixth, but hit Eaton with a pitch. Eric Owens walked, and Martin singled to center to score Eaton.

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Photo: Chad Kreuter (21) congratulates teammate Todd Hollandsworth after the center fielder's third-inning homer.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer