[0] SMOKIN'; DODGERS RALLY IN 10TH TO BEAT A'S : DODGERS 5 OAKLAND 4.

Byline: Eric Noland Daily News Staff Writer

They're still learning each other's names and trying to find their way around the clubhouse. But they're being welcomed with arms spread wide by their new Dodgers teammates.

Otis Nixon, Darren Lewis and Eric Young, newcomers to the Dodgers in the teeth of this stretch drive, combined to spark a 5-4 victory in 10 innings over the Oakland A's on Friday night before 43,630 delirious fans at Dodger Stadium.

Nixon provided the most dramatic contribution, delivering a one-out, bases-loaded single to left-center field off T.J. Mathews in the 10th to drive in two runs, including the game-winner.

It was not his only heart-stopping play of the night, however. In the fourth inning, Nixon scored the Dodgers' first run when he tagged up from third and raced home . . . on a pop-up to shallow center that was fielded by the shortstop.

``Maybe I came over wanting to do too good,'' said Nixon, who struggled at the plate after joining the Dodgers in trade from the Toronto Blue Jays two weeks ago. ``. . . You can come over and put pressure on yourself. But I've always felt that if you're not hitting, you've got to play good defense and be an asset in other areas.''

He's done that, stealing home runs with his glove and bases with his legs. To complement those feats, this was a pretty impressive contribution with the bat.

The 10th-inning drama occurred at a time when matters were looking desperate for the Dodgers.

On a night when L.A. relievers Scott Radinsky and Antonio Osuna faltered in support of a dominant Ismael Valdes, the Dodgers were confronted with a 4-3 deficit entering the bottom of the inning.

But after Greg Gagne led off with a lined single to left, Lewis, in only his second game with the team, dropped a sacrifice bunt in front of the plate and dashed so quickly to first base that Mathews' hurried throw sailed wide of the bag for an error, resulting in runners at first and third. (It marked the second time on the night that Lewis forced an Oakland error while running out a bunt.)

After Lewis stole second, another newcomer, Young, drew a one-out walk, after which Nixon, who produced just 13 hits and three RBI over his first 63 at-bats as a Dodger, drove in the decisive two runs.

The wild finish, which resulted in the Dodgers' 13th win in their past 17 games, maintained their National League West lead at 2-1/2 games.

``It feels just great to be able to contribute,'' said Lewis, the former Chicago White Sox outfielder. ``There are a lot of ways you can do it.

``I've really come to appreciate the little things. Playing in the American League, a lot of times you sit back to wait for the three-run home run. The National League style is a little more aggressive.''

His aggressive play in the 10th led to his being the winning run.

Young's resulted in two impressive defensive plays at second base.

The Dodgers needed it all on a night when their normally steady bullpen stumbled.

In the top of the 10th, Osuna suffered through a three-hit, one-walk breakdown as Oakland scored a go-ahead run.

Earlier, the Dodgers were trying to nurse a one-run lead to the finish when Radinsky, their steadiest reliever this season, was victimized for the first major-league home run of Oakland rookie shortstop Miguel Tejada.

Tejada reached for a low fastball in the eighth inning and drove it into the left-field seats, turning a 3-2 Dodgers advantage into a 3-3 tie.

To that point, the Dodgers had strained to generate some offensive output.

Eric Karros drove in Nixon with a sacrifice pop-up in the fourth inning.

Nixon said he wouldn't have broken from third on the play if the ball had been caught by center fielder Ernie Young, but since the shortstop, Tejada, gloved it while backpedaling, he took a chance.

``He showed his experience there,'' said Russell. ``Any time you get experience down the stretch, it's going to help you out.''

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Photo

Photo: (Color) The Dodgers' Otis Nixon hops past Oakland catcher Brent Mayne on a short pop fly to score in the fourth inning.

Michael Owen Baker/Daily News