MONDESI REGRETFUL AFTER ARREST.

Byline: Marc J. Spears Daily News Staff Writer

It is just early June and already the Dodgers have made the blockbuster Mike Piazza trade, strongly inquired about Randy Johnson and dealt Hideo Nomo.

On Sunday, it was Raul Mondesi's turn to focus attention off the field.

The two-time Gold Glove-winning outfielder was arrested in Glendale at around 2 a.m. Saturday morning on suspicion of driving drunk and failing a sobriety breathalizer test with a .083 blood-alcohol level, according to Glendale Lt. Ray Edey. The legal blood-alcohol limit is .080.

The Dominican is scheduled to appear in court on July 8, said Glendale Sgt. Mark Hansen.

Edey said Mondesi was heading north on Adams Street, near Orange Grove Street, when he stopped in traffic with his high beams on and blocking many of the vehicles behind him. After about a minute, he resumed at a slow speed - while other drivers crossed the center divider to pass him - and made a U-turn before being stopped by police.

Mondesi made reference to the incident only in a prepared statement.

It read: ``I want Dodger fans to know that I take my responsibility as a role model seriously. Therefore, I am understandably concerned about the seriousness of the allegations. I regret the impact that this incident has had on the team and the fans.''

In the statement, Mondesi also said he has been advised by his West Hollywood-based lawyer Myles Berman to withhold comment about the incident. Attempts to contact Berman and Mondesi's agent, Jeff Moorad, were unsuccessful Sunday.

Mondesi, 28, was booked and released under his own recognizance around 7 a.m. Saturday, Edey said.

Before his arrest, Mondesi told police several times that he was a Dodger and refused to hand over his Florida license until several requests were made. However, Edey said Mondesi was ``a complete gentleman'' afterward.

``Regardless of one's stature or profession, whether someone is a Dodger or a doctor, when you drink and drive, you run the risk of being arrested,'' Edey said. ``Luckily, we stopped him before he injured himself or someone else.''

Mondesi, who sat out but attended Saturday's game against the Colorado Rockies, said he wanted to play. He returned to the lineup Sunday and was 0 for 4 with a walk.

Mondesi met with manager Bill Russell and executive vice president Fred Claire on Saturday and Sunday. Claire would not field questions about the incident.

But in a prepared statement, Claire said, ``I have met with Raul today and I know he understands the seriousness of the allegations that have been brought up against him and the responsibility that he has to the Dodgers organization, his teammates and fans. Raul, like any individual, is entitled to exercise the rights to him by the legal process. Although Raul was examined and found physically fit to play in (Saturday's) game, we withheld him from the game because we were concerned about his well-being after undergoing a difficult experience.''

When asked if he was mentally prepared for Sunday's game, Mondesi said, ``(The incident) didn't bother me at all out there. I'm ready to play every day and give 100 percent.''

While the Dodgers have endured numerous distractions this season, Russell said Mondesi's situation didn't seem to take a devastating toll on the team. At the same time, Russell certainly would like his team to concentrate on playing baseball.

``You don't like those kind things to happen, but when they do you deal with it,' Russell said. ``The bottom is line is getting the team focused for the game at hand. Hopefully, that will be the end of it.

``Whenever something happens, you hope that is the end of it so you can relax and get on a good run. I don't think is as big of a distraction as what happened with Randy Johnson or Nomo. As for Mondy, he made a mistake, he learned by it and he will go on.''

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PHOTO Raul Mondesi played in Sunday's game after his arrest on suspicion of drunk driving Saturday.

Phil McCarten/Daily News