Cut Puts Beimel on the Shelf

Left-handed reliever Joe Beimel is out for the first round of the playoffs and maybe beyond, unable to pitch because of a gash on the little finger of his pitching hand.

Beimel told club officials he cut his hand when he dropped a glass in his hotel room. However, a witness told The Times he saw Beimel at a New York bar late Monday night and saw the accident happen there. The witness, who declined to be identified, said Beimel was injured when he dropped a glass container and it shattered as he tried to catch it. There was no altercation involved, the witness said.

Beimel flew back to Los Angeles on Wednesday and could not be reached for comment. Manager Grady Little and General Manager Ned Colletti each said he could not confirm the witness report and could go by only what Beimel told them.

Little, asked whether he was disappointed that Beimel might have misled him about the origin of the injury, said, “We’re disappointed in the fact we didn’t have him on the roster.”

His absence was immediately felt. Little said he would have used Beimel in the seventh inning, when Brad Penny gave up the winning runs in the New York Mets’ 6-5 victory in Game 1 of the National League Division Series.

The Dodgers sent Beimel back to Southern California for plastic surgery that trainer Stan Johnston said would include three layers of stitches, closing the gash more securely and speeding healing. Little said Beimel probably would not be ready for seven to 10 days. The NL Championship Series begins in six days, with or without the Dodgers.

Beimel threw in the bullpen Wednesday morning without discomfort, Johnston said, but the 10 stitches Beimel got Tuesday would not hold. Umpires can stop a game if an injury results in blood spilling onto the ball or a uniform and can remove the injured player if necessary.

“I didn’t want him to get into an at-bat against a left-hander,” Johnston said, “and he can’t finish it off because he can’t control the bleeding.”

Beimel, the Dodgers’ top left-handed reliever, had a 2.96 earned-run average.

The Dodgers dropped him from the playoff roster and replaced him with rookie Chad Billingsley. The injury leaves Mark Hendrickson, who broke into the major leagues four years ago in the bullpen, as the Dodgers’ lone left-handed reliever. Little said Hendrickson could be used late in the game against one or two key left-handed hitters, although he has been used as a starter and long reliever all season.

Little also said left-hander Hong-Chih Kuo, who starts tonight, would be available in relief should the series extend to Game 4 and Game 5. In 23 relief appearances this season, Kuo posted a 5.34 earned-run average.

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Kuo grew up in Tainan City, Taiwan, where he was a friend and high school teammate of Yankees right-hander Chien-Ming Wang.

He said the two speak often, most recently a few days ago. In high school, Kuo said, Wang was a regular pitcher, while he alternated at pitcher and in the outfield. Wang is a year older.

Asked if the team was any good, Kuo smiled slightly and said, “Yeah, pretty good for a high school team. We won a championship a couple times, yeah.”

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Dodgers Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax attended the game -- and sat with Mets owner Fred Wilpon. Koufax and Wilpon were teammates at Brooklyn’s Lafayette High. Koufax is scheduled to attend Games 3 and 4 at Dodger Stadium, spokeswoman Camille Johnston said.

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Julio Lugo, who went from everyday shortstop in Tampa Bay to a nearly invisible utility infielder with the Dodgers, is expected to start two of the next three games at third base in place of Wilson Betemit, who hit .189 against left-handers this season. The Mets plan to start left-handers Tom Glavine and Oliver Perez in Games 2 and 4. Little said he plans to start center fielder Kenny Lofton against Glavine today. Lofton is hitless in 11 at-bats against Glavine.

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Pitcher Lance Carter filed for free agency. The Dodgers acquired Carter and Danys Baez from Tampa Bay in January for pitchers Edwin Jackson and Chuck Tiffany. Carter posted an 8.49 ERA in 10 games for the Dodgers, the last on May 26, and did not return from the minor leagues.

Times staff writer Tim Brown contributed to this report.

bill.shaikin@latimes.com