DODGERS NOTEBOOK: SWIFT KICK: PARK SUSPENDED FOR 7.

Byline: Brian Dohn Daily News Staff Writer

Right-hander Chan Ho Park will pitch June 17 against the Pittsburgh Pirates in what he and the Dodgers hope is a triumphant return from a forced vacation.

National League President Leonard Coleman announced Tuesday that Park was suspended for seven games and fined $3,000 for his part in a bench-clearing brawl Saturday with the Angels. Park began serving the suspension immediately.

``I expected three or five games,'' Park said. ``Seven games, it's so long.''

When told of the length of the suspension, several Dodgers shook their heads in disbelief. Park said a message was relayed to him from the National League office that he was given two extra games for scissor-kicking Angels pitcher Tim Belcher.

``I think it's severe,'' manager Davey Johnson said. ``It's normally three or five.''

However, it made sense for Park to accept the suspension because the Dodgers are off Thursday and Monday.

Kevin Brown starts today in the series finale against the Rangers. Carlos Perez, Ismael Valdes and Darren Dreifort will pitch in the weekend series with Oakland. Brown and Perez will pitch the first two games of the Pittsburgh series before Park starts the series finale.

Dodgers general manager Kevin Malone called the ruling ``fair'' and ``appropriate,'' which is why the verdict wasn't appealed. Malone's hope is that Park, who is 4-3 with a 4.84 ERA, returns rejuvenated and distraction-free.

``Let's get this behind us with Chan Ho and the injuries,'' Malone said. ``I think it's better to get it over with and behind us.''

But even with the suspension handed down, Park said he was unsure of how or why the situation developed.

Park took umbrage to a hard tag by Belcher after a bunt along the first-base line. The two exchanged words before Park hit Belcher with a forearm to the face and then grazed him with a scissor-kick.

``I apologize for trying to hurt him and I want to tell the fans I'm sorry,'' Park said. ``I was so mad about it. He pushed me first. I asked him why he did that and he said, `Get the (expletive) out of here.' ''

However, Park was miffed by comments Belcher made to reporters Monday in San Francisco in which the Angels pitcher was quoted as saying, ``There are cultural differences and he might have that as a legitimate excuse. But if he can be taught the language, he can be taught the customs.''

Park responded by questioning whether Belcher tagged him hard because he is Korean.

``I hope that is not the reason he did it,'' Park said. ``I don't think it is. I hope it's not.''

Weekend is target: Johnson said injured outfielders Devon White and Todd Hollandsworth could return during the weekend series at Oakland. White left Monday's game with a groin strain. Hollandsworth has been on the disabled list since June 4 (retroactive to May 28) with a torn muscle in his side and is eligible to be activated Saturday.

``I'm hoping (White) returns by Friday and I'm hoping Holly by Saturday,'' Johnson said.

If both can return, it would boost the Dodgers outfield situation greatly. They have three healthy outfielders - Raul Mondesi, Gary Sheffield and Trenidad Hubbard - and Johnson is using infielders Tripp Cromer and Dave Hansen as backups.

Balks, walks and chalk: The Dodgers bullpen entered Tuesday's game 2-1 with a 1.76 ERA and five saves in the last 12 games. . . . Mondesi is fifth in the NL All-Star voting among outfielders, trailing Chicago's Sammy Sosa, San Diego's Tony Gwynn, Colorado's Larry Walker and San Francisco's Barry Bonds.

DODGERS vs. TEXAS

Time: 7:35 p.m., at Dodger Stadium.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports West 2; 1150-AM, KWKW-AM (1330 Spanish).

Matchup: It seems to happen every other start, so why not again? Dodgers right-hander Kevin Brown (6-3, 2.73 ERA) faces another of his former teams. Brown was drafted in the first round (fourth overall) by the Rangers in 1986 and pitched his first six big-league seasons in Texas, including his only 20-win season (21-11 in '92). Brown allowed four runs in 6-2/3 innings in winning his last start and is third in the NL in strikeouts (80). Brown has a 2.03 ERA at home. The Rangers conclude the three-game series with right-hander Mark Clark (3-4, 7.55). Opponents are hitting .309 off Clark, who's yielded 82 hits in 64-1/3 innings. He's averaging 5-1/3 innings per start.

- Brian Dohn

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BOX: DODGERS vs. TEXAS (see text)