BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Dreifort’s Fill-In Role Draws Praise

With the return of Todd Worrell on Monday, Manager Tom Lasorda gave high marks for the job Darren Dreifort did as the fill-in closer.

“Last year when he signed with the Dodgers, if someone would have told him he would be the closer with the Dodgers this season, he would have said, ‘No way!’ ” Lasorda said. “Last year he was a junior at Wichita State University, he should be finishing his senior year right now, but he’s the closer for a team in first place. It was like throwing him into a lion’s den, and he deserves a great deal of credit to have the self-confidence and poise and determination to be put in that position and do the job. He’s going to be one of the top relievers in baseball someday.”

During the 17 days Worrell was sidelined, Dreifort had an 0-2 record with three saves in seven games, one blown save and a 9.45 earned-run average. He gave up seven earned runs in 6.2 innings. Overall, he has a 4.68 ERA in 20 appearances and 25 innings. He will return to a setup role. Omar Daal was sent to Albuquerque.

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A few notable numbers: Before Monday’s game, the Dodger outfield was batting a collective .435 over the last 10 games, with Brett Butler batting .419, Raul Mondesi .450 and Henry Rodriguez .438. . . . The team leads the league in batting average, at-bats, runs, hits, total bases, triples, sacrifice hits, slugging percentage and on-base percentage. . . . Seven of Mike Piazza’s nine home runs have tied the score or given the Dodgers a lead.