COOL-HAND MONDY; OUTFIELDER'S AWE-INSPIRING THROW HELPS DODGERS BEAT MARINERS : DODGERS 10, SEATTLE 6.

Byline: Matt McHale Daily News Staff Writer

It was one of the American League free-for-alls, with the Kingdome crowd on its feet and Edgar Martinez racing home with the tying run. Raul Mondesi not only stopped the Seattle Mariners, he froze time.

Mondesi, new to center field, but savvy to cutting down runners and opposing teams, did more than throw out Martinez in the seventh inning of the Dodgers' 10-6 victory Saturday afternoon. He sent chills through the both dugouts and the crowd of 49,559.

``There is only a few guys who can make that play,'' Mariners manager Lou Piniella said, ``and that guy is one of them.''

What made it so spectacular was that Mondesi came across his body to grab Rob Ducey's base hit to medium left-center and came up throwing. Martinez was tagged out at the plate and the Mariners never threatened again.

``I was trying to get over to cut the ball off and it was already by me, like someone had thrown it from second base,'' said first baseman Paul Konerko. ``That throw was unbelievable.''

This should have been Konerko's day, with four RBI including a 431-foot home run off Bob Wells (0-1) that was the first of his career. Instead, Konerko became a footnote, as did Jim Bruske, who resurrected the Dodgers battered bullpen with three innings of shutout relief.

It was Mondesi who stopped the Mariners and allowed the Dodgers (30-31) to win for just the third time in seven games and get their first victory over Seattle in five inter-league meetings at the Kingdome.

``It was big for us, because we need to get something going,'' manager Bill Russell said. ``It has been one step forward, one step back for awhile. This could be a spark.''

Mondesi, who shifted from right to center three weeks ago when Gary Sheffield came over from Florida, already had won two Gold Gloves. But now that he has moved to baseball's glamour position, it might not be a stretch to say he is the best in the National League.

One other would be Piniella's guy Ken Griffey Jr., who opened the second inning with his 23rd homer of the year off Dodgers starter Dave Mlicki.

The Mariners had six runs by the third inning and the Dodgers tied them in the fourth.

Konerko, 0 for 7 since his return from Triple-A Albuquerque, had a pair of RBI in the Dodgers four-run third. Jose Vizcaino also had two RBI, including a game-tying single in the fourth that chased Mariners starter Jeff Fassero.

But this one seemed destined to last awhile.

Mlicki never got on track in his first start since coming over from the New York Mets in the Hideo Nomo trade. Dennis Reyes wasn't much better, walking the bases loaded in the fifth before manager Russell came to get him.

Bruske took over and pitched out of the jam. Sheffield, whose skill in right forced the Mondesi move, ended the fifth when he threw out David Segui at the plate after a fly ball by Dan Wilson.

``Both players have great arms,'' catcher Charles Johnson said. ``Gary is very deceiving. The opposing teams don't think the ball is going to get there and all of a sudden it's upon them. Mondy has a quick release and an incredible arm. His release is amazing.''

Bruske (3-0) retired the next five batters until Martinez doubled high off the fence in right-center, inches from a home run. Bruske, who allowed a game-winning homer to the Cardinals' Brian Jordan last Tuesday, then gave up a single to Ducey but was saved by Mondesi.

``When I let it go, I knew I made a good throw,'' Mondesi said.

When the Dodgers acquired Sheffield in the blockbuster 5-2 trade with the Marlins, manager Bill Russell asked Mondesi to make the change.

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Photo

PHOTO Seattle pitcher Jeff Fassero gets a pat from Dan Wilson as he exits in the third inning after allowing four runs to the Dodgers in the inning.

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press