BUSCH IS ENJOYING FIRST SHOT AT ANCHORING THIRD BASE FOR DODGERS : DODGERS 7, FLORIDA 1.

Byline: Tim Brown Daily News Staff Writer

The answers are coming for Mike Busch, as they are for the Dodgers.

The question is third base.

``I think my ability will take care of itself,'' Busch said Tuesday night, after the Dodgers defeated the Florida Marlins 7-1 at Joe Robbie Stadium. ``Either way.''

The truth is, Busch is as curious as anyone. He has five hits and nine RBI since Mike Blowers' knee shattered along the Dodger Stadium third-base line last Wednesday. Busch's double against Marlins starter Al Leiter drove in the Dodgers' first three runs, and was the first of only four hits for the Dodgers.

The decision for executive vice president Fred Claire revolves around Busch, around if he can be the club's everyday third baseman, or if a trade is necessary. Also, Tim Wallach, a Claire favorite, is due to clear waivers on Thursday. With the trade deadline a week away, Busch's margin for error extends about to the end of this road trip.

Busch, however, has made a case for fiscal responsibility.

``I'm watching it,'' Claire said, ``as I always am.''

Busch has two doubles and a grand slam among those five hits. All told, his 11 hits, including time spent behind Blowers, have produced 14 runs.

``That,'' interim Dodgers manager Bill Russell said, ``is a pretty good ratio right there.''

Busch is aware of the stakes. At 28, he is aware that this could be a one-time shot.

``I'm having some success,'' Busch said. ``The bottom line, lately, is that my success is going toward the team winning.''

In the club's three victories since Busch returned from the disabled list to replace Blowers, he has eight RBI.

``He's out there and he knows it,'' Russell said. ``He probably didn't have this situation before. We're looking for a few good men.''

Leiter, the Marlins left-hander, or ``the good Leiter,'' as he is known in baseball circles, allowed one hit in six innings, but the Dodgers bunched their hit well. It came in the fourth inning with two out, after Leiter walked the bases loaded.

Leiter entered with 73 walks, which led baseball. He retired the first 10 Dodgers in order, then walked the next three - Greg Gagne, Mike Piazza and Eric Karros. Given that opportunity, Raul Mondesi grounded into a fielders' choice - third to home - for the second out.

However, with two out, and against whom he called ``the toughest left-hander I ever faced,'' Busch hit a 3-and-2 pitch into the left-field corner, three games after his grand slam helped beat the San Francisco Giants in the opener of that series. The baserunners started on the full count and therefore three runs scored, Mondesi from first base. In their past 9-2/3 innings against the Leiter brothers - they scored five against the Giants' Mark on Saturday - the Dodgers scored eight runs.

The Marlins cut into the Dodgers' most-from-the-least 3-0 lead with a least-from-the-most fifth inning, in which they had four hits, including a home run, and scored one time. Charles Johnson led off with a home run, his 12th, off Dodgers starter Ismael Valdes (11-5).

Valdes, who threw 99 pitches, did not start the sixth inning. Chan Ho Park did, and reloaded the bases on a hit batter, an error and a walk. The Marlins did not score, because pinch-hitter Joe Orsulak popped up, and Quilvio Veras flied into a double play, left fielder Billy Ashley to catcher Piazza.

Ashley, whose defense has improved despite little playing time, charged into foul territory to make the catch near the bullpen wall. He braced himself against the ledge, then turned and one-hopped a throw to Piazza, who tagged Greg Colbrunn attempting to score from third. Ashley also took a hit away from Devon White in the fourth, when he made a leaping catch against the left-field fence.

``When I was labeled a bad outfielder in the past, I took that as a slap in the face,'' said Ashley, who every afternoon takes extra defensive practice. ``I didn't like the fact I was considered a bad outfielder. I don't know if (the improvement) has changed any minds, but it's changed my mind.''

Leiter left after six innings for a pinch-hitter, with the one-hitter intact, though his absence didn't do anything for the Marlins. The Dodgers scored four runs in the seventh against reliever Jay Powell. Wayne Kirby, who batted eighth against the left-handed Leiter, and pinch-hitter Dave Hansen had run-scoring singles. Mondesi started the inning with a double, but left the game with a bruised right shin when he was thrown out at home attempting to score from third on an infielder grounder.

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Photo

Photo: Jeff Conine slides safely into second off a hit by M arlins teammate Greg Colbrunn as the Dodgers' Delino Deshields awaits the throw.

Associated Press