Piazza Has April Power

After a slow start, catcher Mike Piazza has had one of his best opening months ever,

“He’s been doing a great job as usual,” Manager Bill Russell said. “He started a little slow, but everyone knows what type of hitter he is. We knew he would come around, and it happened just like we expected.”

Last week, Piazza batted .421 (eight for 19) with four homers and nine runs batted in. Moreover, he tied the major-league record for grand slams in a month with his third last Friday.

Piazza went two for four with two RBIs Thursday in the Dodgers’ 14-6 victory over the Pirates at Three Rivers Stadium. He is batting .326 (31 for 95) with eight home runs and 26 RBIs.

But the personal gratification of getting off to a good start is secondary in Piazza’s mind.

“I still have a job to do for this team. That’s really the only thing that matters, and that’s what you always have to keep in focus.”

*

Matt Luke’s second-inning double Thursday was the seventh extra-base hit among his last 10 hits.

Luke, who started in left, has started in seven of the last eight games. He was two for three with a run scored against the Pirates, and is batting .295 (13 for 44) with two homers and seven RBIs.

He is making it difficult for Russell to take him out of the lineup.

“We’re still looking for guys to step up and contribute, and he’s doing that,” Russell said. “He’s swinging the bat, and we’re going to keep going with him.”

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ DARREN DREIFORT (0-1, 2.52 ERA)

vs.

PIRATES’ ESTEBAN LOAIZA (1-1, 5.33 ERA)

Three Rivers Stadium, 4 p.m.

Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330)

* Update--Because of the schedule, Dreifort wasn’t rushed into his new role as the fifth starter. But the Dodgers have only one off-day in May, so they’re counting on Dreifort for many quality starts. “That’s why he’s out there, because we expect him to get the job done,” Manager Bill Russell said. “He’s a guy with a lot of ability, and we’re going to need him with the stretch we have coming up.”