BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Another Tough Outing for Worrell

With an earned-run average of more than 10 and one save to show for the season, Todd Worrell was despondent when he faced reporters Thursday after another rocky outing.

Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda believed that Worrell, who gave up three hits and two runs in the ninth inning, might have been spared the runs if not for some bad breaks.

“He had some tough luck up the middle,” Lasorda said. “One was the ball Jose (Offerman) cut off (a throw) and the other was off the glove of the second baseman. . . . If Jose could have gotten the ball out of his glove, that guy (Eric Anthony) is out.”

Worrell says he is sound physically, but that things just aren’t going well. “It seems like that is the way it is every time I’m out there (on the mound),” Worrell said. “That is something I can’t control as a pitcher. I can’t do more than I am doing right now.”

*

Doug Drabek (7-13) lost his fifth consecutive game Thursday and left after 5 2/3 innings to the sounds of boos. The Astros have scored 20 runs in Drabek’s 13 losses. He has given up three earned runs or fewer in 17 of his 24 starts.

*

Tim Wallach, sidelined because of a broken rib, will be examined today and could be in the lineup tonight. Raul Mondesi, who has batted .192 in 26 at-bats since being called up to take Wallach’s place on the roster July 18, is the probable candidate to be sent down. Left-handed batter Henry Rodriguez has hit in nine of 11 games and is batting .270 in 71 at-bats.

*

Rookie Omar Daal returned to his locker after Thursday’s game and found a hideous red tuxedo, replete with matching red tennis shoes and a velvet touring cap. It’s an annual joke played on rookies when they have to make long walks through the Los Angeles airport at a decent hour, such as Thursday night. The Dodgers’ charter flight was scheduled to land at 7:30 p.m.

Daal was good-natured about it, and when he finished dressing, he received a round of applause from his teammates.

*

Dave Hansen suffered a couple of cuts to his chin, but is fine after he dove for a throw by Carlos Hernandez in the ninth inning. Hernandez, hit on the foot by a pitch while catching during the ninth, had his big toe drained but is fine.