HENDRICKSON GAINS IN L.A. LOSS PIAZZA'S RBI SINGLE ONLY BLEMISH FOR TOUGH-LUCK STARTER SAN DIEGO 1, DODGERS 0.

Byline: TONY JACKSON Staff Writer

SAN DIEGO - For a starting pitcher, the long walk from the mound to the dugout and up the clubhouse tunnel can feel very different, depending on when it is taken.

If he does it in the eighth inning or later, he probably gets a standing ovation from the home crowd, a lot of high fives from his teammates and the inward satisfaction of a job well done.

If he does it in the third inning, as the Dodgers' Mark Hendrickson did seven days ago, he gets a somewhat different reaction.

It was at that moment that Hendrickson, the lanky left-hander acquired from Tampa Bay, could finally feel the full weight of his two lackluster months in a Dodgers uniform. And as five levels of boos rained down upon him, he also could feel veteran Aaron Sele breathing down his neck as he jogged in from the bullpen, not only taking over for Hendrickson in the game but possibly taking over for him in the rotation as well.

By the end of the afternoon, when the Dodgers' six-game winning streak had come crashing down in an ugly defeat against Florida, manager Grady Little vowed to give Hendrickson at least one more start.

It came Tuesday night, and although it ultimately led to a 1-0 loss to the San Diego Padres in front of 32,774 at Petco Park, it also led to a vastly different perception of Hendrickson.

For the first time in his five big-league seasons, Hendrickson took the mound in a monumental game under the glare of a late-summer pennant race. He took to it like a natural, stifling the Padres for six spectacular innings and shutting them out for the first five.

Meanwhile, his teammates tried to contend with erstwhile San Diego ace Jake Peavy. But they didn't contend very successfully, because Peavy didn't look very erstwhile.

The Dodgers managed just three hits through seven innings against Peavy while striking out seven times. The stalemate finally broke with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, when Mike Piazza hit a tough one-hopper off Hendrickson that shortstop Rafael Furcal perhaps should have corraled but didn't. It caromed into shallow center field, allowing Josh Barfield to trot home from third with the game's only run.

The play was ruled a hit.

When the game was over, no one bothered to ask Little whether Hendrickson would start again.

Hendrickson's standup performance aside, the Dodgers (66-60) now lead the National League West by an uncomfortable two games after losing the first two in this three-game series - their first series defeat since these same Padres swept them at Dodger Stadium four weeks ago.

San Diego, which is beginning to look like the Dodgers' greatest obstacle to winning the division, now has won 10 of 13 from the Dodgers this season, including 10 of the past 11.

Hendrickson (1-6) allowed only three harmless singles through the first five innings. But Josh Barfield began the sixth by pulling one just fair up the left-field line that would have rolled to the corner if a fan hadn't interfered. Still, Hendrickson looked like he might pitch out of the jam.

With Barfield on second, Brian Giles took a called third strike, after which he shot a quizzical look in the direction of plate umpire Laz Diaz. Mike Cameron then flied out to medium-depth right, with Barfield tagging and taking third, setting up Piazza.

Less than four hours earlier, when his daily pregame media briefing had given way to idle chit-chat with a handful of writers, Little had lamented the fact a disproportionate number of former Dodgers had come through in key situations against his club this season. As if to prove Little's point, Piazza then came through with the game's biggest blow.

Once they had the lead, the Padres squeezed one more inning out of Peavy (7-12), who started the seventh by walking Jeff Kent. San Diego then got a big break. Andre Ethier followed with a smash up the middle. Second baseman Barfield had him played perfectly for the double play, but couldn't come up with the ball. It bounced directly to shortstop Manny Alexander, who, while sprawled on the ground, reached for the ball with his glove hand and kept a foot in contact with the bag for a forceout.

Trevor Hoffman worked the ninth for his league-leading 33rd save.

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CAPTION(S):

3 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Despite losing Tuesday, Dodgers starter Mark Hendrickson might have saved his spot in the rotation.

Lenny Ignelzi/Associated Press

(2) Jake Peavy pitched seven shutout innings while allowing three hits and striking out seven to help San Diego move within two games of the National League West-leading Dodgers.

Associated Press

(3) PENNY

Box:

DODGERS at SAN DIEGO

- Tony Jackson