POWER SURGE CONTINUES DODGERS RIP GIANTS FOR 5 HOMERS, NOW LEAD MAJOR LEAGUES WITH 14 DODGERS 10, S.F. 4.

Byline: Steve Dilbeck Staff Writer

Politics being a tough game, it turns out Gov. Gray Davis has been looking for answers in all the wrong places.

Who would have thought in this post-Davey Johnson era of the Dodgers that such a dazzling new power source would be hidden at ... Chavez Ravine?

The suddenly muscled-up Dodgers were at it again Saturday, for the second consecutive night powering five home runs to drub the slightly stunned Giants 10-4 in front of a Dodger Stadium crowd of 38,417.

Shawn Green hit a pair of solo homers, Mark Grudzielanek hit his fourth home run in three days, Eric Karros his second in two days and Chris Donnels added his first of the season.

That gives the Dodgers 14 home runs on the young season, best in the major leagues.

``It's not a major issue with us,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. ``It's something that just happens.''

Not too often, though. The last time the Dodgers hit five or more home runs in consecutive games was in 1996, but that was sort of cheating, being in Colorado and all.

After scoring five runs in their first three games of the season, the Dodgers have scored 27 runs in their last three games.

``After reading the so-called experts after the first couple of games of the season, I didn't know if we were going to score another run all season,'' Karros said.

Instead, the Dodgers were so powerful Saturday, they could overcome a so-so outing by right-hander Chan Ho Park.

Park (2-0) went five somewhat shaky innings, allowing four runs on five hits with four walks. He struck out four.

``Chan Ho wasn't as sharp as his first time out, but he battled through,'' Tracy said. ``That's a sign of maturity.''

The Dodgers, who have scored 10 runs in consecutive nights against the Giants, actually trailed early, when Park gave up a two-run homer to Russ Davis in the second inning.

But then the Dodgers got those new generators going, Green and Karros hitting back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the inning off San Francisco right-hander Livan Hernandez (1-1).

It was the third consecutive night the Dodgers hit back-to-back home runs.

The Dodgers took the lead for good with three runs in the third. Grudzielanek followed a Tom Goodwin single with his fourth home run, and then Green added his second solo shot.

``It's simple, they're not missing,'' Giants manager Dusty Baker said.

The power parade continued with three more in the fourth. The left- handed hitting Donnels hooked his home run just inside the left-field foul pole to lead off the inning and give the Dodgers 6-2 lead.

Hernandez, apparently growing tired of all this power display during an energy crisis, then plunked catcher Chad Kreuter with a pitch.

A walk to Alex Cora, a Park sacrifice bunt and a bloop double by Goodwin that scored both runners finally ended the night for Hernandez.

The Dodgers added two more in the sixth when Grudzielanek's single off Tim Worrell scored two, and matched his career high with four RBI.

Meanwhile, Matt Herges took over for Park and gave the Dodgers another masterful relief job. Herges, 11-3 with a 3.17 ERA as a rookie last season, pitched three scoreless innings, holding the Giants to one hit. He did not walk a batter and struck out three.

The Dodgers closed out their offense with 10 hits, and Gregg Olson threw a scoreless ninth to close out the Giants and leave the Dodgers with their third consecutive victory.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

(1 -- color) Shawn Green is congratulated after hitting his second home run.

(2) Shawn Green tosses his batting glove to the fans after his homer in the third inning.

John McCoy/Staff Photographer