DODGERS RUMORS ABOUND; TEAM DENIES STORY CLAIRE, RUSSELL TO BE FIRED : DODGERS 7, ST. LOUIS 4.

Byline: Matt McHale Daily News Staff Writer

It was a long day for Bill Russell and a long month for Eric Karros.

For Russell, Wednesday began with him answering published reports that he and executive vice president Fred Claire would be fired at the end of the season. It ended with Karros driving in five runs in a 7-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in front of 35,647 at Dodger Stadium that gave the manager his first win in five games.

Less than 24 hours after the Randy Johnson trade was killed with the Seattle Mariners, the Fox-owned New York Post said the Fox-owned Dodgers would replace Russell and Claire with Florida Marlins manager Jim Leyland and general manager Dave Dombrowski.

Although Fox's News Corp. the club's new owners, denied the report, the Dodgers needed a victory to replace all the chaos.

``There is enough to worry about without all this,'' Russell said. ``Everybody knows we will be re-evaluated at the end of the season. Right now we're just hoping to get everyone's focus back on the field.''

Since Monday, the Dodgers have designated former top pitcher Hideo Nomo for assignment and told the Mariners they would not trade Darren Dreifort for Johnson, one of baseball's top pitchers.

Before Tuesday's game, Claire addressed the team to discuss the Johnson trade talks, which were lengthy and distracting. Claire also attempted to reaffirm with players that he is in charge of the baseball operation. In the May 15 blockbuster trade with Florida, Fox Television head Chase Carey was the point man in the negotiations.

Now this.

``We're trying to get things settled down, so this is not beneficial,'' Claire said. ``(New club president Bob Graziano) talked to me after the story came out to tell me it was not true and I know he also talked to Bill.''

The game seemed almost an afterthought but not to Karros, who had a home run and three singles. He had just three RBI in May.

For Karros, who returned to the cleanup spot he lost to Bobby Bonilla after the May 15 blockbuster trade with Florida, it was his first home run and RBI since May 19. He came to the plate five times and had an RBI in each at-bat. He missed the first 22 games of the season due to surgery to his left knee, which is still tender.

The home run came on the first pitch of the fifth inning against Cardinals starter Mark Petkovsek (3-2).

``I'm happy to be hitting in the fourth spot,'' said Karros, who was moved from sixth to cleanup Tuesday. ``It's a place I like to hit. It doesn't matter where I am in the order as long as I do my job to drive in runs.''

Karros' big night made a winner of Ramon Martinez (7-2), who now has victories in seven of his past eight decisions. Martinez pitched seven innings, allowing five hits and two runs with six strikeouts and five walks.

The Dodgers bullpen pitched the final two innings and continued to struggle. Antonio Osuna allowed a two-run homer to Gary Gaetti in the ninth, but Scott Radinsky, who blew two saves in his last three appearances, got the final out for his 11th save.

``It wasn't pretty, but it will give all of us a little chance to breathe,'' Russell said.

Speculation has been swirling since the team was sold in late March that no one would be safe after Fox took over.

Russell, who turns 50 in October, is in the final season of a two-year $700,000 contract. Claire, 62, was given a three-year contract by former Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley several months before the sale was finalized. The future of both men with the club is believed to hinge on the club's success this year. The Dodgers have not won a postseason game since 1998. But Fox said Wednesday there have been no talks about replacing anyone.

``There is no truth to this,'' said Fox spokesman Vince Wladika ``This is obvious speculation on the part of anyone who knows the situation in Florida. It's not true.''

Leyland, who last season led the Marlins to a World Series championship then watched management dismantle the club in a payroll purge, has a multiyear contract worth $1.5 million this year. He can opt out of the contract after this season for $500,000.

``My wife called me this morning and told me she heard this on the Regis and Kathy (Lee) show,'' Leyland told the Miami Herald. ``I asked when this was supposed to happen and when was I going to be informed. I've never talked to anybody. I don't want to talk to anybody. It annoys me because it doesn't look good. It hurts my feelings. I've got a job. I don't want another job. It's an insult to another manager.''

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color) St. Louis' John Mabry grimaces after striking out Wednesday.

Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press

(2--Color) ``I asked when this was supposed to happen and when was I going to be informed. I've never talked to anybody. It annoys me.''

--- Jim Leyland, on rumors he will become the next Dodgers manager