DODGERS ELECTRIFY EDISON : DODGERS 8, ANGELS 1.

Byline: Joe Haakenson San Gabriel Valley Tribune

The Angels ought to place a headstone somewhere in front of the entrance to Edison International Field. On it, the inscription might read: Anaheim Stadium - 1966-97. R.I.P.

Visitors to the stadium - er, ballpark - won't recognize the place, not after the $117 million renovation. A crowd of 39,541 got their first look at Edison Field on Friday night after the gates were opened for the first game of the Freeway Series between the Dodgers and Angels, won by the Dodgers 8-1. The game was called after seven innings when the rains came.

One of the features of the ballpark is the Outfield Extravaganza, which is a rocky formation that is supposed to represent the California coastline. It shoots geysers up to 90 feet in the air when a home run is hit.

But after the first homer in Edison Field history cleared the fence Friday, there were no geysers, no fireworks, nothing.

A glitch?

No, a Dodger.

The display is only activated when an Angels player homers. So when Dodgers first baseman Paul Konerko homered off Chuck Finley in the top of the fourth inning, the coastline was quiet.

Konerko, though, made a lot of noise with his bat. He hit a second homer off Finley in the fifth inning, a towering three-run blast into the left-field seats. He finished the night 3 for 4 with three RBI.

Konerko said he can't wait to get the season started, if for no other reason than to prove all the hype wasn't a lot of hot air.

``The one thing that's different from everything in the past is that, in the past, we were always dealing with the potential of it all,'' Konerko said. ``It was all talk. Now I'm here. We'll find out what I'm going to do. I'm anxious to get going. The last couple of years I've wanted to find out if I can play or not (at the major league level).''

Konerko has been shuffled around from position to position so much in his professional career, it's enough to make any rookie's head spin. He started out as a catcher, moved to first base, then third, then to left field and now back to first until Eric Karros can return from knee surgery.

But Konerko isn't about to complain.

``When you're growing up, you dream about playing in the big leagues,'' he said. ``So when you get there, you're not going to be picky about where you play. I'm not going to say, `Oh God, they're moving me again.' It doesn't matter.

``I'm just going to do the things that got me here. Make adjustments as I need to. I just want to fit in with the team. That's all that matters. If it's a winning team, everybody's doing something good.''

Mike Piazza also homered for the Dodgers, another three-run shot that cleared the two-tiered bullpen area beyond the left-field fence and landed in the cheap seats, otherwise known as the Family Pavilion ($4 for adults, $2 for children).

Dodgers starter Ramon Martinez tuned up for his opening day start Tuesday by throwing two hitless innings, allowing only a one-out walk to Cecil Fielder in the second.

Finley went five innings and was tagged for four runs, all earned, and eight hits.

Before the game, all the talk centered on the new ballpark, which includes cup holders for every seat, as well as club-level seats that will be upholstered.

``I think it goes unrivaled,'' Angels shortstop Gary DiSarcina said. ``I don't think there are any ballparks in the league that compare to this. If you can't get excited about playing in this ballpark, you've got to check for a pulse.''

``How can you complain about this? It's gorgeous,'' Angels right fielder Tim Salmon said. ``It's plush, it's beautiful. It makes you want to come to the ballpark.''

DODGERS vs. ANGELS

Time: 7:05 p.m., at Dodger Stadium.

TV/Radio: No TV; KRLA 1110-AM, XTRA 1150-AM, XPRS 1090-AM (Spanish), KWKW 1330-AM (Spanish).

Tickets available: About 15,000 remaining.

Matchups: The Dodgers' Hideo Nomo 14-12, 4.25 ERA in 1997) opposes the Angels' Ken Hill (9-12, 4.55 ERA in '97). Nomo, coming off elbow surgery during the off-season, has struggled during the spring, going 2-1 with an 8.25 ERA in four starts. Opposing batters are hitting .298 against him. Meanwhile, Hill has enjoyed a productive spring, going 2-2 with a 2.33 ERA in six starts. He has walked only four batters in 27 innings.

- Joe Haakenson

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

PHOTO (Color) KONERKO

BOX: DODGERS vs. ANGELS (see text)