BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Worrell Bolsters the Entire Bullpen

After some turbulent weeks, the Dodger bullpen has settled down, and pitching coach Ron Perranoski credits Todd Worrell’s recent success.

“I don’t know if it was mental or not, but like hitters do, everybody got into a slump at the same time,” Perranoski said. “And nobody came up and put a stop to it.

“But lately, Worrell’s done that, he’s throwing real well, he’s stopped all that. Now everybody’s kind of in a groove.”

Bedfore Monday night’s game, the bullpen had given up only one earned run and stranded every runner it had inherited during this home stand.

After his two-inning save on Sunday, Worrell has earned a save in his last five opportunities. In his last 12 outings, he is 0-1 with five saves and has given up only one earned run in 12 1/3 innings.

Perranoski traces the bullpen’s comeback to Worrell’s confidence-building 1-2-3 outing in the top of the ninth to hold a one-run lead for Ramon Martinez against the Cincinnati Reds on June 13.

Since coming off of the disabled list May 23, Worrell has five saves and given up two earned runs in 15 1/3 innings.

With a physically sound Worrell, the younger relievers such as Rudy Seanez, Omar Daal and Ismael Valdes have been able to settle into supporting roles, and rookie Darren Dreifort could be moved out of the closer spot and back to the minors to iron out his control problems, Perranoski said.

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The Dodgers finished the first half of their season Sunday with a 43-38 record through 81 games--the same record they had through half a season last year. With the San Francisco Giants on their way to a 103-victory season, the Dodgers were 11 1/2 games out of first place halfway through 1993.