DAAL MAKES A STATEMENT LEFT-HANDER LOOKS IMPRESSIVE IN START AGAINST SAN DIEGO DODGERS 5, SAN DIEGO 2.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

Omar Daal got what he demanded, even if for just one day. And Daal delivered.

Daal, who lobbied to be a starter and demanded a trade in spring training, was dominant in his first start with the Dodgers. Making a start for the injured Kevin Brown, Daal struck out eight and allowed just three hits in 6 1/3 innings. He allowed two unearned runs as he led the Dodgers to a 5-2 victory over the San Diego Padres before 24,434 on Thursday at Dodger Stadium.

The left-hander retired the first nine batters he faced and didn't allow a hit until D'Angelo Jimenez led the fourth inning with an infield comeback single.

Daal got his second win of the season and his first as a starter. Eric Gagne earned his sixth save in as many opportunities by retiring the side in the ninth.

Dodgers fans didn't seem to mind Daal's spring-training demand since they gave him a standing ovation. Not that it was a surprise. They extended the same courtesy to Gary Sheffield on opening day last year following his spring-training antics.

Adrian Beltre, who had a hit for the 10th consecutive game, and Mark Grudzielanek both hit home runs for the Dodgers. The Dodgers took a 2-1 lead on Grudzielanek's home run to left field in the fifth inning. Beltre extended the lead to 5-2 with a two-run homer to left field, a 410-foot shot that landed in the Dodgers bullpen, on a 2-0 pitch off Padres starter Brian Tollberg.

In the fourth inning, Daal gave up the single to Jimenez, then struck out Trenidad Hubbard and walked Phil Nevin. Bubba Trammel reached on an error when shortstop Cesar Izturis fielded the ball, but it popped up high out of his glove and he couldn't find it.

Ron Gant's sacrifice fly to center field in the fourth scored Jimenez for a 1-1 tie.

It was a rough day for the 22-year-old shortstop Izturis, who had two errors. With the bases loaded in the seventh inning, Jimenez hit a ball to shortstop that Izturis bobbled and Gant scored on the play.

Daal threw 94 pitches, 57 of which were strikes. He was Philadelphia's opening-day starter last year and won 13 games. But he'd lost a combined 19 games with Arizona and Philadelphia in the 2000 season.

Not long ago, Dodgers general manager Dan Evans said he knew there'd be a time when they'd need Daal to make a start. It happened much sooner rather than later.

``Omar was not the happiest of campers when he found out he was going to start off pitching out of the bullpen and yet the special thing and the professionalism of Omar Daal comes out and exudes upon all of us,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. ``He has taken the ball every time he's gotten it in relief and gone out there and done the job.''

``That's the quality of the individual you're dealing with.''

Daal earns $5 million this year and becomes a free agent at the end of the season. He figured his stock would drop if he was demoted to the bullpen. On the contrary, Daal moved from the bullpen back into a starting role with ease. He had a 2.16 ERA in four games as a reliever.

Dodgers center fielder Dave Roberts had his fourth stolen base this season in the fifth inning. He was 1 for 5 at the plate.