DODGERS SHAKE A'S WITH TWO IN THE 9TH : DODGERS 6, OAKLAND 4.

Byline: Kevin Acee Daily News Staff Writer

Up in his box, Fred Claire, the Dodgers' unexcitable executive vice president, simply marked his scorebook as he always does.

Oh, but it felt good.

``That's a good start,'' Claire said moments after Karim Garcia's first-inning single Friday night gave the Dodgers an early lead and just their fourth run-producing hit by one of their left fielders this month. ``That's what we're looking for.''

The Dodgers got a few more things that lately they haven't been seeing, including their sixth victory in 17 games.

On three walks (one intentional), two hits and a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning, they beat the A's 6-4 at the Oakland Coliseum to earn a split in their first interleague series.

In the eighth inning, Eric Karros, the player besides Todd Hollandsworth whose lack of production had been killing the Dodgers, gave them something they'd been looking for from him - a clutch hit - to tie the game 4-4.

Help from their left fielder and first baseman. It's a winning combination.

``It's something we've been lacking,'' Dodgers manager Bill Russell said.

Wilton Guerrero led off the ninth inning with a double, went to third on Brett Butler's sacrifice bunt and scored on Mike Piazza's double. Todd Zeile, who had walked, scored the final run when Karros walked with the bases loaded.

``It's going to take 25 guys to win or lose this thing,'' said Karros, who entered the night batting .175 with runners in scoring position. ``If you're waiting on one or two guys, you'll be waiting all year long. It's got to be everyone that produces.

``Mike got the big hit. Mondy (Raul Mondesi) was getting on base all night. Zeile got on base. Karim and I got some hits. That's what it's going to take.''

The Dodgers also got their first victory in a game started by Pedro Astacio since May 1, and Todd Worrell got his first save since May 26. Darren Hall pitched a scoreless eighth inning and got the victory.

After being baffled by Astacio for four innings, the A's converted four hits into four runs in the fifth to take a 4-2 lead.

Mondesi, 10 for 17 the last four games, singled to left field with one out in the eighth inning before A's pitcher Steve Karsay got ahead of Karros 0-2. Karros then slammed a chest-high fastball high out of left field.

Not even 24 hours after the Dodgers recalled Garcia to replace Hollandsworth, the 1996 Rookie of the Year, the move paid dividends. Garcia, in his first major-league at-bat of the 1997 season, singled to left to score Zeile from third base and Piazza from second and give the Dodgers a 2-0, first-inning lead.

``He looked very composed out there. He didn't look nervous,'' Russell said of Garcia, who also walked twice.

Just like Roger Cedeno last month, Garcia started in his first game up. Garcia, who will start alongside Cedeno today as Butler rests, was a bit surprised by his call-up.

``They were truthful with me from the beginning,'' Garcia said of Claire and Dodgers manager Bill Russell. ``They told me they had too many outfielders, I was young, and I needed to work on some things. You realize you're young, and you've got to wait for your chance.''

With the Dodgers searching for any cure to their offensive woes, especially a left-handed cure, Garcia will definitely get an opportunity to stick.

Russell would not say whether he planned on playing Billy Ashley in left field Sunday in Seattle or any other time the Dodgers face a left-handed pitcher, continuing a platoon he had when Hollandsworth was on the team. But Ashley has it figured out.

``I don't foresee a platoon situation with Karim,'' Ashley said. ``I think he's up here to play.''

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Photo

Photo: (color) Dodgers' Karim Garcia, called up late Thursday, comes through with a two-run single to left in the first inning.

Associated Press