Pete Incaviglia and Ricky Otero . . .
For one night, at least, the Phillies' oddest couple harmonized behind seven strong innings from rookie righthander Mike Grace (7-2).
Incaviglia smacked two opposite-field homers and drove in six runs.
Otero had three singles and scored twice as the Phillies beat the Dodgers, 9-3, at Veterans Stadium.
Tonight, the red light will go on and ESPN2 and Japan's JOLF Radio will be on hand when Hideo Nomo and Curt Schilling square off. It is a highlight international attraction, rightfully advertised as such.
But let's not forget that, over the course of the longest season, that all the cogs must be working for a team to operate efficiently. And if Inky and Otero have one common strand, it's that both were considered questionable commodities when spring training opened.
Incaviglia was coming off an injury-plagued season in Japan during which he batted .181 for the Chiba Lotte Marines. Otero batted .137 in a brief, early trial with the Mets before disappearing under the waves - glug, glug - of a farm system with several more-touted prospects.
During batting practice, Phillies manager Jim Fregosi would admit to only idle curiosity about Otero. ``I want to see him play. I've never seen him play. We'll see what he brings,'' he said tersely.
What he saw was Otero leading off the bottom of the first against Dodgers starter Ismael Valdes with a crisp single to center. He then saw Otero dancing off first with enough alacrity to goad Valdes into a balk.
Mickey Morandini singled to left, leaving runners on first and third. Valdes unfurled a wild pitch. Otero scored his first run as a Phillie.
Jim Eisenreich walked and Incaviglia unloaded a three-run homer just northwest of the intersection of the fence and foul pole in right to give the Phillies a quick, 4-0 lead.
By the end of the night, Fregosi's tone had shifted dramatically.
