Beltre Playing Well, Gaining Admirers Among the Veterans

Rookie Adrian Beltre started at third base during the Dodgers’ two-game sweep of Florida because Bobby Bonilla experienced swelling in his wrists before the series.

Bonilla recently replaced Beltre as the everyday third baseman because the rookie has been struggling--but he didn’t struggle Friday night.

Beltre hit his fourth home run and drove in two runs in a 5-1 victory at Pro Player Stadium.

“Sometimes, I don’t trust myself [at the plate],” Beltre said. “Tonight, I felt comfortable. Tonight, I trusted myself.”

The Dodgers are pleased that Bonilla is playing well, but Beltre remains in their plans.

“You better believe he is,” interim General Manager Tom Lasorda said.

“This kid has got all the tools, but this is a difficult game.”

Beltre was hitless with a walk in four plate appearances in a 10-inning 2-1 victory over the Marlins on Thursday, which marked the first game he had started since Aug. 14.

Beltre, 20, has started 44 games since his contract was purchased from double-A San Antonio on June 24, but he has often appeared overmatched. Beltre is batting .224 (35 for 156) with 15 RBIs.

“He’s going to be good, you can see that,” first baseman Eric Karros said. “There have obviously been some guys who have come up [with the Dodgers] who haven’t had things work out for whatever reason, but he’s shown something already.”

Bonilla agrees.

“The youngster needs to play,” said Bonilla, a 13-year veteran. “You have to get out there as much as possible early in your career when you’re trying to adjust to major league pitching.

“It’s tough enough for guys coming from triple-A, let alone double-A.”

Team officials said Beltre won’t be optioned to the triple-A Albuquerque Dukes because their season ends Sept. 7.

“He’s come up here and he’s seen guys traded, and a lot of things going on, but he’s done a really good job of staying focused on his work,” Manager Glenn Hoffman said.

“He’s going to look back on this one day and appreciate how much he learned.”

*

Lasorda and vice president Ralph Avila spoke informally with Marlin General Manager Dave Dombrowski in his box during Friday’s game.

Dombrowski is among a growing list of candidates to succeed Lasorda as general manager.

“You guys [reporters] are going to be asking me questions for a hell of a lot more days,” Lasorda said.

“I think this [the search process] is going to take awhile.”

ON DECK

* Opponent--Atlanta Braves, three games.

* Site--Turner Field.

* Today--1 p.m. PDT.

* TV--Channel 11 today, ESPN Sunday, TBS Monday.

* Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330).

* Records--Dodgers 64-64, Braves 84-44.

* Record vs. Braves--1-5.

TODAY

DODGERS’ DARREN DREIFORT (6-11, 3.72 ERA) vs. BRAVES’ DENNY NEAGLE (11-11, 3.57 ERA)

* Update--Dreifort pitched seven scoreless innings as the Dodgers defeated the Braves, 1-0, last Sunday. Third baseman Bobby Bonilla is expected to be available to play tonight. He sat out the last two games because of swelling in his wrists.

* Sunday, 5 p.m. PDT--Carlos Perez (7-12, 3.82) vs. Greg Maddux (16-6, 1.65).

* Monday, 10 a.m. PDT--Brian Bohanon (6-8, 2.85) vs. Tom Glavine (16-5, 2.53).