Unkind Cut Beats Dodgers : Baseball: Drabek’s home run gives the Astros a 3-2 victory. Claire decides not to sign shortstop Elster.

The first pitch Pedro Astacio made during Sunday’s game against the Houston Astros was hit into the left field seats. Thus began another Dodger loss at the Astrodome, this one the result of a solo shot by a player who had only homered once in his entire career.

Doug Drabek hit a 3-and-2 pitch from reliever Pedro Martinez into the left-field seats during the seventh inning to give the Astros a 3-2 victory and a sweep of the three-game series before 33,940.

But Drabek’s homer wasn’t the only symbol of the way things are going for the Dodgers, who dropped to 14-22 with their sixth loss in seven games.

During the eighth inning, the Dodgers had the tying run at second base with two out. Eric Karros popped up a pitch by reliever Xavier Hernandez that looked like it would land in the crowd behind the third-base Dodger dugout. But Ken Caminiti followed the ball into the dugout, ran past about four players and reached over the roof to snag the ball and end the Dodgers’ threat.

Manager Tom Lasorda had one question for his players: “Why did you let the guy in?”

And their reply?

“They didn’t say anything,” Lasorda said.

Dodger catcher Mike Piazza, who had four singles, drove in a run during the sixth inning and Cory Snyder then added an RBI double to tie the score.

The loss spoiled a strong performance by Astacio, who had struggled through three of his last four starts. Astacio gave up eight hits over six innings and struck out four. It also ended the 15 2/3-inning scoreless streak of Pedro Martinez (1-2).

The loss came after the Dodgers learned that Fred Claire, executive vice president, had not added shortstop Kevin Elster to the roster by the Saturday midnight deadline.

The reaction among some of the players was of incredulity. Why, they said, had Claire begun the whole escapade with Elster if he wasn’t going to add him to the roster?

“It’s like nothing is being done,” a player said. “How could you lose on this one?”

“We are not saying get rid of the kid (Jose Offerman),” one player said. “We are just saying he’s not ready yet. Don’t release him. But put him on the bench and let him take his time learning.”

None of the players declared Elster the answer to the team’s problems. But since spring training, the players have said that this season they expected changes to be made if the team wasn’t doing well. Claire, they have said, would not sit back and wait while the club sank.

Elster, who would have cost the club $500,000, has been trying to prove that his surgically repaired shoulder is sound. His stint in the minors did not convince Claire, although he said Elster was playing the position at the major league level.

“I’m not saying he is not making the plays, but he is still not 100%,” Claire said.

Elster was never in Claire’s plans to take Offerman’s place, but it’s Lasorda’s job to decide who plays. Lasorda said he supports Claire’s decision, but insiders say he pushed hard for Elster. And Claire, saying competition is healthy, denied speculation that his decision was based in part on fears that Elster’s presence on the team would rattle Offerman.

“Why would you bring Elster along like (Claire) has, have him work out with us and make him a part of the club and then not sign him if he can play?” said one player, shaking his head. “It doesn’t make sense.”

Elster, who is not known for his offense, at least has some fight in him, a throwback to his days as the starting shortstop with the New York Mets. That fire is seen in only a few Dodger players. Even the desk clerk at the hotel where the Dodgers and nearly all the National League teams stay said the Dodgers are the quietest team of all.

And the loudest?

“The Philadelphia Phillies,” said Richard Smith. “They are down here in the lobby and partying all night. And it’s not as if they are celebrating. They do this every night.”

Check the standings.