Mondesi Back in the Lineup
A battery of tests performed on center fielder Raul Mondesi’s sore back did not reveal bone or disk damage, team officials said Saturday.
Mondesi underwent bone scans and MRI exams Friday because of recurring stiffness in his lower back.
He sat out three games, and was forced to leave early in three others, on the team’s recent 10-game trip. Mondesi was also sidelined during Friday’s 3-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Dodger Stadium.
Mondesi started in center Saturday night and went one for four with three strikeouts and a throwing error.
“All I wanted to do was get back to help my team,” Mondesi said.
Team physicians believe Mondesi’s pain will subside through therapy. That pleased Dodger officials, who feared that Mondesi might be bound for the disabled list for the first time in his five-year career.
“This is a big relief,” Manager Glenn Hoffman said. “We were all worried to death because backs are real tricky.
“Whenever a guy has soreness in that area, you’re not really sure how long it will be. When you look at the worst-case scenario, you know that you could be looking at a long, long time. So this is really good news.”
Especially for Mondesi.
“It’s been real hard the last few days,” Mondesi said. “I was worried that it was real bad because the pain wouldn’t stop.
“I didn’t know if it was a big problem because it would stop sometimes, but then it would come right back. That makes you worry when you have that type of pain. I’ve never had that before.”
Mondesi convinced Hoffman he was well enough to play Saturday while participating in batting practice.
“I took a lot of swings and it felt pretty good,” Mondesi said. “I went into the pool at my house before I left, and then I went into the whirlpool [at the stadium] before I hit.
“All of that helped me get loose, better than in a long time.”
*
Before Saturday’s game, Eric Young was fourth in the National League with 34 stolen bases despite sitting out 18 of the last 26 games because of a right quadriceps strain.
Young was leading the league with 33 stolen bases when he went on the disabled list July 14.
“That seems like a long time ago,” Young said. “You’re not going to see me run like I was running before [the injury], because I just can’t do that right now. My leg still really isn’t where it needs to be.
“The only thing that can make it totally right is a lot of rest, and I can’t do that right now. We’ve got to win games, and I need to be out there because I can help with my bat and my defense.
“As far as running goes, I’ll just have to pick my spots for the rest of the year.”
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The Dodgers surpassed two million in attendance Friday night in their 52nd home game, marking the 25th consecutive season they have drawn at least two million at Dodger Stadium.
TODAY
DODGERS’ CHAN HO PARK
(10-5, 3.96 ERA)
vs.
PIRATES’ CHRIS PETERS
(5-8, 3.80)
Dodger Stadium, 5 p.m.
Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330).
* Update--Park is trying to tie Orel Hershiser’s Los Angeles franchise record of 12 wins in a row at home. Hershiser established the record from Sept. 30, 1984, through Oct. 2, 1985. Park’s 11-game winning streak at Dodger Stadium began July 10 last season. He squandered a 4-0 lead in the eighth inning of his most recent outing Tuesday, getting no decision in a 10-inning 5-4loss to the Montreal Expos at Olympic Stadium.