DODGERS NOTEBOOK: GRUDZIELANEK HURT BY BOOING.

Byline: Matt McHale Daily News Staff Writer

Mark Grudzielanek couldn't believe what he was hearing.

Every time he came to bat, every time he touched the ball at shortstop Tuesday night, the Olympic Stadium crowd booed.

Until he was traded from the Expos to the Dodgers on Friday, Grudzielanek had been a favorite son. Now he was a target, and he didn't like it.

``I was very disappointed,'' said Grudzielanek after the Expos came from behind to beat the Dodgers in 10 innings. ``I played hard in front of them for four years, busted my butt every day. And that is what I get? I'm shocked.''

Grudzielanek went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts and was struck on the left hand by a pitch from Expos starter Mike Thurman. But most of all, it was the fan reaction that hurt.

Grudzielanek was criticized in the Canadian media for going public with his disdain for Expos management, which had discussed a multi-year contract before signing him last winter to a one-year $350,000 contract.

With Tuesday's crowd just 10,515, it was easy to hear individual fans yelling at Grudzielanek about money.

``They did not know the whole situation,'' he said. ``But I had no control over what happened the past few days. I liked playing here, but it was time to move on.''

Suspension upheld: Gary Sheffield began his three-game suspension Thursday for his part in the June 28 brawl with Pittsburgh catcher Jason Kendall. He flew back to Los Angeles on Tuesday morning and will rejoin the team Friday for the opener of a nine-game homestand.

The club was optimistic the suspension would be reduced when National League president Leonard Coleman did not decide Sheffield's fate last Friday, when the two met. Umpires reports said Kendall instigated the fight.

Sheffield also was fined $1,000, which will be paid by the club. Money for all fines goes to the Baseball Assistance Team, an organization that lends a hand to former major leaguers in financial trouble.

Sheffield stayed behind in New York when the team went to Montreal.

``Those things don't get reversed very often,'' manager Glenn Hoffman said. ``We left him in New York because we figured the suspension would go through. It would have been pretty weird if he had been cleared to play. We would have had to get him up here in a hurry.''

Bonilla closer: Bobby Bonilla, on the disabled list since July 15 (left wrist), hit a dozen home runs from the left side in batting practice and hopes to be activated Thursday. But he remains realistic about his condition.

``Today was a controlled environment,'' Bonilla said. ``There is a big difference between a 65-mph fastball and a 95-mph fastball. Only then can you judge your bat speed. But things seem to be coming together.''

Hoffman said he would like to see Bonilla wait until Friday, when the Dodgers open a nine-game homestand.

DODGERS vs. MONTREAL

Time: 4:05 p.m., Olympic Stadium

TV/Radio: 1150-AM, KWKW-AM (1330 Spanish)

Matchup: In the second of three games with the Expos, Darren Dreifort (6-9, 3.68) faces right-hander Carl Pavano (3-5, 4.95). Dreifort, the club leader with 131 strikeouts, allowed eight hits and three runs in 6-1/3 innings Thursday in Philadelphia in a no-decision. Pavano was one of the keys to last winter's trade that sent Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martinez from Montreal to Boston. Pavano has made 13 starts for the Expos after opening the season in a Class A rehabilitation program (tendinitis in right shoulder). In his last start, Pavano allowed three earned runs in six innings in a 5-4 loss to San Diego and ace pitcher Kevin Brown.

- Matt McHale

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BOX: DODGERS vs. MONTREAL (see text)