BACK IN THE SWING : DODGERS ASSERT POWER EARLY ON DODGERS 5, PHILADELPHIA 1.

Byline: Eric Noland Daily News Staff Writer

At issue in the Dodgers' decision to move Raul Mondesi from fifth to third in the lineup this year was whether the hot-blooded Dominican would be a patient-enough hitter in that role.

Is one pitch enough?

Runners were at first and third with no outs when Mondesi stepped to the plate in the first inning Wednesday night against the Philadelphia Phillies. The thunder of Mike Piazza and Eric Karros waited behind him. Would he produce one of those first-pitch pop-ups on the infield or do his part to sustain the rally?

Well, in leading the Dodgers to a 5-1 victory before 37,195 at Dodger Stadium, Mondesi looked at one delivery from rookie right-hander Calvin Maduro for a ball, then could restrain himself no longer and jerked a three-run home run that curled around the left-field foul pole.

That, and Hideo Nomo's eight strikeouts in seven innings, helped the Dodgers erase the memory of their shutout loss to the Phillies on Opening Day.

``I want to see the first pitch, see what they're throwing me,'' Mondesi said of his new responsibilities. ``Last year, I was swinging at the first pitch.

``What I want to do, if he doesn't throw me a strike, I take the ball. If he does throw me a strike, swing the bat. Be more patient.''

``You can see the maturity there,'' manager Bill Russell said of Mondesi, who finished the night 3 for 4 with four RBI and two runs scored.

Russell noted that in Mondesi's next at-bat, he slapped a single into right-center. ``You didn't see that many times before,'' the manager said. ``He'd try to jerk another (home run). Now he's taking what they give him.''

And there figures to be some juicy offerings for the taking. Pitchers used to be able to tease Mondesi with wild benders off the outside corner; and this guy could usually be counted on to flail mightily at them. But now, if he can learn to lay off that stuff, he is sure to get a few more pitches in the strike zone, since Piazza and Karros are stacked up behind him.

Accordingly, in his third at-bat, Mondesi looked at three consecutive pitches out of the strike zone, laid off strike one, then fouled off the next pitch before ripping an RBI single into center.

It caused leadoff man Brett Butler to smile. ``They're going to throw some fish up there,'' he said, ``and see if he's going to bite. If he doesn't, they're in trouble.''

Mondesi's first-inning output helped the Dodgers breathe a little more easily throughout the game, and Nomo made sure the early advantage was not wasted. In addition to the eight strikeouts, he walked no one and scattered four hits - the most damaging a wind-blown home run to right by catcher Mike Lieberthal, which touched off a raucous celebration among Lieberthal's Westlake High School buddies behind home plate.

``It really helped me out a lot,'' Nomo said of Mondesi's early jolt. ``I wanted to throw more fastballs after the second inning, so it took a lot of the pressure off me.''

It also enabled him to challenge hitters rather than nibble at corners. ``The season just started, so I can't say much,'' said Nomo (1-0), ``but I think one of the elements I have is good control on the ball.''

The Dodgers survived a few nervous moments in the eighth inning, when Mark Guthrie and Darren Dreifort combined to load the bases on two singles and a walk. But Dreifort pitched out of the jam and finished up for his first save of '97 - also his first save since his rookie season of '94 and the arm trouble that followed.

As pleased as Russell was with Mondesi's work on this night, he was just as thrilled with the way Nos. 1 and 2 hitters Butler and Wilton Guerrero created opportunities ahead of him.

In the first, Butler walked, then scooted to third when Guerrero pulled a single through the right side.

In the fourth inning, Guerrero lined a two-out triple off the wall in right. Mondesi followed with his full-count lined single to center.

``The first two guys set the tone,'' said Russell. ``If they get on base consistently, they can get you some runs, because the firepower is there.''

All the more so if Mondesi can refrain from wielding a quick trigger.

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Photo

Photo: (color) Raul Mondesi is welcomed by Brett Butler and Wilton Guerrero after his first-inning three-run homer.

John McCoy / Daily News