PARK BLISTERS MONTREAL; YOUNG INJURED, OFFENSE SHINES IN ROUT OF EXPOS : DODGERS 7, MONTREAL 0.

Byline: Brian Dohn Daily News Staff Writer

Chan Ho Park pitched his best game of the season, leadoff hitter Eric Young left the game before an out was recorded with a right-calf strain and Dodgers manager Davey Johnson won his 1,000th game.

Those are the major points in the Dodgers' 7-0 win against the Montreal Expos in front of 5,132 at Olympic Stadium on Monday.

The happenings are listed in order of importance to Johnson. The career wins are a distant third.

``One hundred or something like that would be more important this year than 1,000,'' said Johnson, in his 13th season managing.

Reaching the 100-win mark would almost certainly assure the Dodgers a playoff spot, but without Young in the lineup it would be nearly impossible. Young leads the majors with 18 stolen bases and the National League with a .443 on-base percentage.

He hurt the leg on a stolen base and left the game when he hobbled to third on a wild pitch.

``He'll probably be ready when we get home,'' Johnson said. ``I wouldn't bring him back on the Astroturf.''

Johnson said he'll hit former Expo Mark Grudzielanek leadoff, especially since the shortstop went 3 for 4 and scored three times in place of Young.

That is, unless Young can talk Johnson into playing before the team returns to Los Angeles to face the Florida Marlins on Friday.

``I'm glad (Johnson) said, `Probably,' '' Young said with a grin. ``If I'm feeling good, I don't think he's going to keep me out of the lineup.''

It was also an important game for Dodgers catcher Todd Hundley, left fielder Gary Sheffield and Park. Hundley had his first three-hit game as a Dodger and drove in three runs. Left fielder Gary Sheffield also had three hits and three RBI as the Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, extended it to 3-0 in the fourth, added a run in the seventh off starter Dustin Hermanson (2-3) and scored three times in the ninth.

The only thing that perhaps kept Park (3-2) away from his first career shutout was a developing blister.

Instead, Johnson opted to pull Park after seven innings in fear the forming blister would tear and cost Park his next start. Still, Park struck out a season-high eight and allowed five hits for his second straight win. He's now beaten every National League team.

``I felt really good before the game started,'' said Park, who hasn't allowed a run in his last 11-2/3 innings. ``I was throwing a lot of strikes with my fastball and I was throwing my curve for strikes.''

After Young and Park, there was Johnson, the fifth active manager and 44th all-time to reach the 1,000-win mark.

But how important is it to Johnson? When recently quizzed, he didn't know his first win as a major-league manager came April 4, 1984, against Cincinnati. The Mets won 2-0.

What Johnson does recall is his first game as Mets manager in spring training. It was in St. Petersburg, Fla., though Johnson didn't recall the opponent.

``It was the fourth or fifth inning and my offense ran off the field after two outs,'' Johnson said. ``I looked around and thought, `I ain't going to last one minute in New York. I can't believe I've got the dumbest coaching staff, and I'm the stupid (guy) who's managing in New York.' I remember that.''

Johnson, who's second among active managers with a .575 winning percentage (1,000-738), won the 1986 World Series with the Mets. He's been in the playoffs five times in his 10 full seasons and was named the American League Manager of the Year when he was with the Baltimore Orioles. He's led the Mets, Cincinnati and the Orioles to the playoffs and finished first or second each time.

``When I think of milestones like the 1,000th win, I was fortunate enough to be in New York with (Frank) Cashen, (Barry) Larkin and (Jim) Bowden and all the guys in Cincinnati,'' Johnson said. ``You think about the teams and how they played. You thinking about starting 0-8 in `95 (in Cincinnati) and blowing them out of the water and putting it all together in the second half of the season.

``There's the great teams with (Pat) Gillick (in Baltimore). Those are the things you're thankful for, the opportunity to put this (Dodger) uniform on. That's what you reflect on. When you reach a milestone, you're forced to think about it.''

IN GRAND STYLE

With the Dodgers' 7-0 win over Montreal Monday, Davey Johnson became the fifth active manager to reach 1,000 wins.

Tony Larussa 1578

Bobby Cox 1436

Joe Torre 1196

Jim Leyland 1007

Davey Johnson 1000

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color) Mark Grudzielanek (left) is out at second as Expos' shortstop Orlando Cabrera throws for a double play.

(2) Montreal's Dustin Hermanson tries to pick the Dodgers' Mark Gruzielanek off at first in the Dodgers' 7-0 win Monday.

Paul Chiasson/Associated Press

(3--Color) Davey Johnson