[0] PIAZZA'S BAT TALKS; HIS 2 HRS SPOIL SUPPAN HOMECOMING : DODGERS 7 ARIZONA 2.

Byline: Matt McHale Daily News Staff Writer

There was only one way for Mike Piazza to end the angry voices and mend the broken hearts.

All it took was a home run and a grand slam in the first three innings of Thursday's 7-2 Dodgers victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks to put the Dodger Stadium crowd of 39,541 back on his side.

For the first two home games, fans loudly booed each Piazza at-bat for his unwillingness to sign a multi-year contract extension. But after announcing Wednesday that he will not negotiate with the Dodgers until after the season, Piazza finally broke loose and the crowd roared.

``Tonight I felt very relaxed,'' Piazza said. ``It was like I turned a page and moved on.''

Against Jeff Suppan, the Crespi High alumnus who was the Diamondbacks' second overall pick in last November's expansion draft, Piazza drove a first-inning fastball 445 feet into the left field pavilion for a two-run homer.

Fans cheered wildly for Piazza's first home run and RBI of the season, but there was a smattering of boos when he returned to the plate in the third. This time, Piazza just cleared the fence in left-center as the ball glanced off the glove of Devon White with the bases loaded.

The stadium erupted. And when Piazza reached the dugout, the fans asked him back to take a bow. He obliged.

``Our big man came through,'' second baseman Eric Young said. ``He did it for himself and for the team.''

After the game, Fox Sports News reported that both sides were still talking and hoped to have a deal done by Monday, when the homestand ends. Fox said a six-year, $80-million contract was still on the table, but club sources disputed the claim. Piazza rejected a six-year, $85-million offer on Wednesday before saying the negotiations were over until after the season.

Although Piazza, who entered the game batting just .172 (5 for 29), struck out in the fifth and was intentionally walked in the seventh, he clearly was back.

He overshadowed six solid innings by right-hander Ismael Valdes, who withstood a line drive off his right ankle in the second and won his first game in his second start.

Piazza also made Suppan (0-2) a footnote on the right-hander's first appearance in Dodger Stadium. He was gone after four innings, allowing eight hits and six runs with one walk and five strikeouts.

And few will remember that Dodgers' first baseman Matt Luke made his first major-league start, replacing slumping rookie Paul Konerko. Luke went 0 for 4.

One sidelight to Piazza's grand slam was a strained left hamstring by shortstop Jose Vizcaino, who was injured when his bunt loaded the bases with one out. His status is day to day.

Suppan, 23, was coming off an 8-3 loss to San Francisco in his first start. Suppan's catcher, Jorge Fabregas, said he had better stuff in his first start but didn't throw bad pitches to Piazza.

``On the second home run, he went inside, a good pitch,'' Fabregas said. ``I thought Piazza popped it up, but it just kept sailing and went out. I was encouraged. He's good at shaking things off.''

Suppan had pitched in Southern Section tournament games at Anaheim Stadium but never Dodger Stadium. He said he was not awed by his surroundings.

``I made the pitches I wanted to make,'' Suppan said. ``(Piazza) just did what he does.''

Piazza has received three offers from the Dodgers in the past 10 days, none of which were close to the seven-year, $105 million deal he is seeking. The first was a six-year contract for $78 million that would have made him baseball's highest-paid player.

The Dodgers came back with an $81 million offer before Tuesday's home opener, which also was rejected.

After Piazza turned down six years for $85 million Wednesday afternoon, he decided he would not talk about a contract with the club until after the season, when he is eligible for free agency.

``What's done is done,'' Piazza said. ``Tonight I got a chance to bury it and play ball. That's when I'm happiest.''

SUPPAN'S L.A. DEBUT

Former Crespi High pitcher Jeff Suppan made his Dodger Stadium debut Thursday night. He gave up two home runs to Mike Piazza, including a grand slam. His pitching statistics:

IP H R ER BB SO

4 8 6 6 1 5

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos, Box

Photo: (1--Color) Diamondbacks pitcher and former Crespi star Jeff Suppan yielded two Mike Piazza home runs, one a grand slam.

(2) Jose Vizcaino greets Mike Piazza after his third-inning grand slam. The Dodgers catcher, who has ended contract talks, let his bat do the talking.

Tina Gerson/Daily News

Box: SUPPAN'S L.A. DEBUT (See Text)