A BITTERSWEET NIGHT FOR SHEFFIELD : DODGERS 2, FLORIDA 1.

Byline: Matt McHale Daily News Staff Writer

Pro Player Stadium always seemed like a mercenary territory for Gary Sheffield.

Big hits, no smiles, one ring, and like so many times before, a ticket out of town.

But when Sheffield returned here Thursday night for the first time since the May 15th trade made him a Dodger, he stepped to the plate with a flood of emotions.

``I looked over at my old manager (Jim Leyland) and it really hit me,'' said Sheffield, who homered in the second and walked in the 10th in the Dodgers' 2-1 victory over the Florida Marlins. ``I saw some faces in the crowd that I knew. I never wanted to leave here. My dream was to win the World Series but I never got to finish the dream, which also was enjoying the next year.''

There were other players involved in the trade for Mike Piazza, who had stories to tell.

Catcher Charles Johnson was born nearby and never left Florida until he was sent to the Dodgers.

Bobby Bonilla, who took the night off with a sore left wrist said he felt a lot of nostalgia. And Jim Eisenreich, nearing the end of his career, walked with the bases loaded in the 10th to give the Dodgers just their fifth victory in 15 games.

But Sheffield was the story. The crowd of 27,664 still had a special place for him. After his first-inning home run, they booed him out of respect.

Leyland showed him even more respect by walking him intentionally with runners at first and second to load the bases.

``I could see the night meant so much to Sheff,'' Dodgers manager Glenn Hoffman said. ``He's a quiet guy who has been misunderstood in the past. With the Marlins last year he finally got his due, a World Series ring. Tonight was a homecoming.''

Sheffield and his new teammates are about as far from a World Series as the Marlins were when he joined them in 1993.

Even with the victory the Dodgers are 7-1/2 games behind the New York Mets in the wild-card race with 35 to play.

Sheffield's home run tied the game at 1-1 and was a big lift for struggling starter Dave Mlicki.

Although Mlicki walked five, he got the Dodgers to the late innings. Scott Radinsky (6-5) replaced Mlicki to start the eighth and pitched two scoreless innings to get the victory.

Although Marlins Justin Speier (0-2) did not allow a hit in three innings, he walked three in the 10th to force home the winning run.

``We really needed this win,'' Mlicki said. ``We need to start something, anything. This team is too good to play like this.''

Although they won, the Dodgers continued to struggle against unknown pitchers.

Thursday it was right-hander Rafael Medina, who was making his first start since being sidelined with shoulder trouble in April.

He allowed four hits and one run in 6-2/3 innings with five walks and four strikeouts.

The Dodgers stranded 11 baserunners and now have 22 hits and 24 strikeouts in the first three games of this seven-game trip.

Although Sheffield has picked it up at the plate after his first true slump as a Dodger (1 for 18), the club is still not clicking. That won't help when they get to Atlanta this weekend and face Denny Neagle, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine.

The Braves were the team Florida beat last year as a wild card to go to the World Series.

That was Sheffield's greatest career highlight but it wasn't easy, before or since.

Sheffield, who reached the big leagues at 19, had a lot of growing pains along the way. He and Marlins general manager Dave Dombrowski - the top candidate for the Dodgers GM position - often battled.

Sheffield signed a six-year, 61-million dollar contract extension that upset fans.

After the Marlins dismantled their team after the series Sheffield did not win back the crowd when he made comments like ``Pay me and like it.'' Or ``I'd rather play here and rot,'' after refusing to waive his no-trade clause.

Now all that seems like a long time ago.

``It was the best time of my life but it's over know,'' Sheffield said. ``Now it's time to bring a championship to Los Angeles.''

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Photo

PHOTO The Dodgers' Gary Sheffield watches his solo homer sail out in the bottom of the first inning.

Joe Cavaretta/Associated Press