DODGERS BEAT GIANTS, CEDENO INFURIATES THEM : DODGERS 11, SAN FRAN. 2.

Byline: Tim Brown Daily News Staff Writer

It was just 90 more feet. Just one more base, at the tail end of a game that had dozens of them. It was a ninth-inning trot from first to second by a rookie ballplayer, and suddenly men were screaming at each other, swearing and being restrained. And ultimately, one was left in tears.

So goes the rivalry between the Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants, and the hatred that is stoked every so often by a seemingly insignificant event.

The Dodgers defeated the Giants 11-2 on Wednesday afternoon at Candlestick Park for a split of their two-game series, but not before Dodgers baserunner Roger Cedeno attempted to steal second in the ninth inning, in what already was a nine-run game.

Immediately it was determined by the Giants that Cedeno had violated baseball's unwritten rule regarding such effort in an already decided game. The motion was seconded by the Dodgers.

As Cedeno was not being held at first base by the Giants, and as it did not occur to the Giants that the Dodgers would attempt to pile on another run in the ninth, Cedeno made it easily to second. At that time, Dodgers hitter Eric Karros stepped out of the batter's box. Giants second baseman Steve Scarsone sniped at Cedeno. As did Giants third baseman Matt Williams. And left fielder Mel Hall.

The energy would have done the Giants well in, say, the fourth inning, when the Dodgers scored seven runs on five hits, two Giants errors and a walk. Or even the third, when the Dodgers scored three times on three walks, a wild pitch and two hits.

Instead, after the top of the ninth, Williams had to be held away from Cedeno. Hall, too, was angry, as was Giants manager Dusty Baker. Many of the Dodgers were unhappy as well, though it was Karros whose at-bat continued through the episode. He expected to be hit by one of Doug Creek's fastballs, in retaliation.

In fact, Karros said, ``I was trying to figure if I was going to (duck) forward or go back. It was a 50-50 shot.''

Asked if he was grateful Creek chose to save the Giants' ire for Cedeno, Karros said, ``Yeah. I appreciate it anytime a guy doesn't drill me. I'm sure they'll do something eventually to retaliate or show their displeasure. I would assume.''

Afterward, Cedeno sat before his locker, surrounded by coaches and teammates. He appeared to have been crying, and refused comment.

``It was a terrible act,'' Baker said. ``He told Scarsone he was confused. Scarsone asked him if he thought it was a full count, and he said no, that he was confused. If he's that confused, somebody ought to give him a manual on how to play baseball. I've never seen anybody that confused.''

Most attributed such thoughtlessness to Cedeno's youth. He is 21. While he was defiant on the field when verbally attacked by the Giants, he clearly was contrite afterward.

``That wasn't nothing to get bent out of shape about,'' said Dodgers second baseman Delino DeShields, who had three hits, including his first home run, and three RBI. ``I've seen a lot worse. He made a mistake, that's all. I guess (the Giants) need something to get worked up about.

``He wasn't out there trying to embarrass anybody.''

Apparently they were dreadfully embarrassed, because it became a large issue.

``It's a good way to get somebody else on your team hurt,'' Scarsone said.

Cedeno entered the game in the eighth inning, then walked with one out in the ninth.

``He's just a kid,'' Brett Butler said.

However, he did manage to dampen a Dodgers' victory, even one in which they scored a season-high 11 runs on a season-high 13 hits. Mike Piazza doubled in the first inning for his first extra-base hit after 21 consecutive singles to start the season.

Chan Ho Park, sensational in his first start of the season, was erratic in his second and was removed after four batters in the third inning. He got six outs, all on strikeouts, then walked the next four hitters. Reliever Antonio Osuna (1-2) pitched three scoreless innings for the win, and four Dodgers pitchers held the Giants to three hits.

Additionally, Mike Blowers had two hits and two RBI, and Karros had two hits, including a double, his second extra-base hit of the season.

``Those are the things that are very gratifying for me,'' Dodgers manager Tom Lasorda said. ``I know it makes Blowers feel a helluva lot better. I know it makes Karros feel a lot better.''

Alas, it was Cedeno's stolen base - technically scored catcher's indifference - that carried another rainy, chilly day.

``Unfortunately,'' Karros said, ``that becomes the center-point of the game. That becomes the main focus.''

FOURTEEN THE HARD WAY Dodger pitcher Chan Ho Park struck out the first six batters he faced, but when he walked the first four Giants' batters in the third, he was taken out of the game. Antonio Osuna and Joey Eischen each pitched three innings and struck out three batters while Todd Worrell struck out two in the ninth.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

Photo: (color) Chan Ho Park struck out the first six G iants he faced before wildness set in and he left the game.

Associated Press

Box: FOURTEEN THE HARD WAY (see text)