[0] WHITE ENDS SLUMP AT THE PERFECT TIME : DODGERS 7, SAN DIEGO 3.

Byline: Brian Dohn Daily News Staff Writer

Technically, one at-bat isn't enough to break out of a slump. However, what Devon White did to the San Diego Padres should go a long way toward pulling him out of a horrific stretch at the plate.

White's pinch-hit three-run homer in the sixth inning broke open a tie game and lifted the Dodgers to a 7-3 victory Saturday over the Padres in front of 56,568 at Qualcomm Stadium.

And wouldn't you know it, the reason White was on the bench in the first place was because of his struggles with the bat.

White hit .440 during the Dodgers' season-opening homestand. But before connecting for the three-run homer off Padres reliever Carlos Reyes, he was 1 for 19 on the road trip that began Monday. His only other hit was an RBI double off Arizona's Randy Johnson on Thursday.

Dodgers left fielder Gary Sheffield added a pair of homers and three RBI. It was Sheffield's 12th multi-homer game of his career and first since July 1997. He leads the Dodgers with five home runs this season.

Dodgers right-hander Chan Ho Park (1-1) recorded his first win of the season, allowing three runs on eight hits in five innings. He walked two and struck out six. Park got help from three relievers.

Reyes (0-1) pitched one inning but took the loss.

After getting shut out by Andy Ashby in the series opener, the Dodgers wasted little time in getting to San Diego starter Sterling Hitchcock. An RBI single by Eric Karros in the first inning gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead, and two innings later Sheffield homered to center field with Mark Grudzielanek on base for a 3-0 lead.

Park held the lead until the fifth, when the Padres broke through by doubling their hit total for the game. Chris Gomez led off with a single, moved to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a groundout. He scored when Quilvio Veras lined a Park pitch through the middle. Park got his glove on the ball but couldn't corral it.

Park struck out Reggie Sanders, but hitting machine Tony Gwynn doubled to the wall in right-center field to score Veras. It appeared Dodgers center fielder Jacob Brumfield, starting for White, could make a play on it but he jumped too soon.

That inning also cost the Padres Hitchcock for the rest of night. He was lifted for pinch-hitter Eric Owens and left after allowing two runs on four hits in five innings.

Wally Joyner then singled to right to score Gwynn and tie the game 3-3.

Prior the game, Dodgers manager Davey Johnson said he was going to rest White either Saturday or today, partly because of the day game following a night game and in part because of White's hitting woes.

In White's place, Brumfield got the start and got a little retribution when his one-out single in the sixth moved Adrian Beltre to third. Brumfield went to second on the throw.

It brought catcher Paul LoDuca to the plate, and for a moment Park was in the on-deck circle. But when LoDuca, hitless in 11 at-bats this season, fell behind in the count, White appeared in the on-deck circle.

LoDuca struck out, but White didn't miss Reyes' 2-1 fastball over the plate, hitting hit it 406 feet to give the Dodgers a 6-3 lead.

With Park no longer available, Johnson went to his revamped bullpen to chew away some innings. Antonio Osuna, activated from the disabled list Friday, made his first appearance of the season. He was infallible, retiring all three batters he faced with the kind of ease Johnson was hoping he'd see.

The Dodgers upped the lead 7-3 in the top of the seventh when Sheffield greeted reliever Brian Boehringer's first pitch with the barrel of his bat, lining a solo homer to left.

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PHOTO Gary Sheffield is met by teammate Mark Grudzielanek (8) after hitting the first of two home runs.

Joan C. Fahrenthold/Associated Press