DODGERS PROVIDE FODDER; SAN DIEGO USES GAME AS PRACTICE FOR PLAYOFFS : SAN DIEGO 3, DODGERS 2.

Byline: Matt McHale Daily News Staff Writer

There was a playoff atmosphere in Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night, even if nobody noticed.

In the middle of their 3-2 loss to San Diego in front of an announced crowd of 29,163, the Padres began tuning up for their upcoming postseason appearance. They got struggling starter Andy Ashby six innings of work and he responded by winning his 17th game and first since Aug. 12.

Then, the Padres brought in reliever Brian Bohringer for one batter, the dangerous Angel Pena, and struck him out. Then it was on to left-hander Mark Langston to get out a left-handed batter, even if it was Dodgers starter Brian Bohanon.

It seemed like a waste of time at the end of a miserable Dodger season, but for the Padres it was critical. Situation pitching is an important part of playoff baseball. And Langston, the longtime Angel, is being asked to come out of the bullpen after spending his entire career as a starting pitcher.

San Diego also used top left-handed setup man Randy Myers with two outs in the eighth after Dan Miceli walked Raul Mondesi. He gave up a pinch single to Charles Johnson, putting runners at first and third.

The Padres turned to closer Trevor Hoffman, their sixth pitcher, and he got the final out of the eighth when Mark Grudzielanek popped out to first. Hoffman also pitched the ninth to get his 52nd save.

All the moves also were important because the Padres, who clinched the National League West on Sept. 12 in San Diego, have not played well in September.

With Wednesday's victory, they are just 8-13 in the month, ruining any chance of going into the playoffs with the league's best record. If Atlanta keeps the best record and the New York Mets win the wild card over Chicago, the Padres will play the Braves in the first round.

If the Cubs win the wild card, San Diego will open against Houston.

The Padres took the lead for good in the fifth inning when Tony Gwynn homered off Bohanon (7-11), the Dodgers' starter. It was Gwynn's 15th homer of the season.

Bohanon, who has been among the Dodgers most consistent starters the past two months, was not sharp Wednesday. He allowed two runs in the second inning, including one to Jim Leyritz, who walked to open the inning.

It was the first time Bohanon allowed a run in 17-1/3 innings, dating back to the first inning of his Sept. 11 start in San Diego.

That was the only run in a 1-0 loss to Joey Hamilton. But Bohanon came back five days later to pitch eight scoreless innings in a 2-0 victory over Colorado.

Wednesday he made his 13th start as a Dodger. His first, back on July 12, was a 6-3 loss to San Diego that included two home runs by Ken Caminiti. This time, Caminiti struck out three times.

Unlike Bohanon, Ashby has struggled recently after a hot start. He became the National League's first 16-game winner Aug. 12 with a 5-0 victory over Atlanta.

In his next six starts, Ashby lost three times and had three no-decisions. He didn't get much support, only three runs in the three losses. But he also got pounded, allowing 29 runs in 30 innings

Ashby wasn't helped Wednesday by the two-run cushion. He quickly gave it back by allowing runs in the third and fourth innings to tie the game. The first came on an RBI single by Eric Karros, just his second RBI in the last eight games.

Earlier this month, it appeared Karros had a chance to reach 100 RBI for the fourth consecutive season, but he came into Wednesday's game with five RBI in September.

The Dodgers tied the game when Matt Luke hit Asbhy's first pitch of the fourth inning into the right-field bullpen. It was Luke's 11th homer and his first since Sept. 2. Although he came in batting just .174 against San Diego, he had one of his best games against the Padres on Sept. 12 when he had a bases-clearing triple and a two-run single for a career-high five RBI.

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PHOTO San Diego's Andy Ashy worked six innings against the Dodgers to earn his 17th victory.

Kevin Karzin/Associated Press