It’s a Spark That Fizzles

SAN DIEGO — Roger Cedeno, who two months ago asked to be traded, believing the Dodgers had given up on him, never has felt so welcome in his life.

The Dodgers may have lost Wednesday night, 5-4 in 11 innings, to the San Diego Padres at Jack Murphy Stadium, but they believe they found an offensive catalyst.

The Dodgers, who yielded only four hits the first 10 innings, finally succumbed in the 11th. Chris Gomez led off with a single to center. John Flaherty tried to bunt him to second, but with two strikes, gave up the idea. He instead singled to center, allowing Gomez to reach third.

Dodger reliever Antonio Osuna (1-1) induced a grounder to shortstop from pinch-hitter Craig Shipley, keeping Gomez from scoring while Flaherty advanced to second. He intentionally walked Steve Finley, loading the bases. Quilvio Veras then hit a high chopper to rookie second baseman Wilton Guerrero. He moved within three feet of second base, but threw to first, allowing the winning run to score.

“It was caught in between, it was hit that high,” Dodger Manager Bill Russell said. “That was a tough loss.”

It left the Dodgers (23-20) with their fourth consecutive defeat and seventh in the last 10 games. Yet Cedeno’s performance at least left the Dodgers with hope for the future.

“It feels so good to be here,” Cedeno said, “I don’t want to go back. I think this time will be different for me. I’m much more confident. Last year, I was just too nervous. I was kind of scared.

“I know this is my chance, and this was a good start. I’ve got to keep doing it and make things happen. I want to prove I belong here.”

Cedeno couldn’t have validated his claim more if he had brought along a highlight reel from triple-A Albuquerque.

The Dodgers, desperately looking for a center fielder who could be their offensive catalyst, watched Cedeno go two for five and create havoc on the base paths.

The Dodgers, anxiously looking for a true center fielder with speed, watched Cedeno score the Dodgers’ first run with his blazing speed, stretching a bloop single into a double and later stealing second in the fifth inning.

The Dodgers, hoping to find a center fielder with power, watched Cedeno line a two-out single in the sixth inning, scoring Guerrero.

The Dodgers, praying also for a true center fielder who could play spectacular defense, watched Cedeno make two beautiful running catches alone in the first inning.

Welcome to the club, Rog. Can we help you look for a place? We’ve got a feeling you’re going to be staying around awhile.

“He’s going to have a long and successful career,” said Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president. “He has an opportunity, of what duration, who knows.

” I told him, ‘Enjoy the opportunity. You’re young, you’re talented, and you’re in a Dodger uniform.’ How good could life be?

“I’m not expecting Roger Cedeno to step in and be the savior of the ballclub, but he gives us speed, and he has to utilize that speed.

Center fielder Brett Butler, who is watching Cedeno take his spot in the lineup while trying to recover from torn cartilage in his shoulder, believes that Cedeno will be a big league star. He has all of the raw skills. His talent is refined. And this time, he has the confidence.

“He knows he can play,” Butler said, “he just needs to relax and have fun. He has the ability to do it. He has his confidence back. It’s just a matter of him putting it together.”

The Dodgers wasted no time utilizing Cedeno’s raw speed, and Russell decided to revert to his original lineup, with Raul Mondesi batting third, Mike Piazza fourth and Eric Karros fifth.

“I wanted to get some speed up there,” Russell said, “to see if we can make some things happen. We had to get some things going.”

This night, with Guerrero, Cedeno and Mondesi at the top of the order, the Dodgers at least made life interesting for the night.

The top of the order scored two runs and drove in two others, with Karros producing a two-run homer in the sixth.