Dreifort Steps Up as Stopper for Dodgers in 8-1 Victory

Things couldn’t have appeared worse for the Dodgers Thursday night against the suddenly overwhelming Arizona Diamondbacks.

They were in danger of being swept in the four-game series, and having to answer uncomfortable questions. Oh, and they were facing dominant left-hander Randy Johnson, who struck 15 in his previous start.

But Darren Dreifort was up to the challenge.

The Dodgers’ No. 5 starter filled the role of an ace, pitching seven impressive innings in an 8-1 victory at Bank One Ballpark.

Dreifort (2-0) gave up only two hits and one earned run, ending the Diamondbacks’ winning streak at three games.

In addition to Dreifort’s work, the Dodgers pounded the often-unhittable Johnson (1-1) in his first start at home, disappointing a crowd of 36,105. Johnson struck out 10 in six inning, but also gave up seven runs--six earned.

Gary Sheffield provided all the support Dodger pitchers would need, staking Dreifort to a 2-0 lead with a two-run home run--his third--in the fourth against Johnson. Mark Grudzielanek also hit a two-run homer--his first--against Johnson asthe Dodgers took a 5-1 lead with three runs in the fifth.

Reliever Pedro Borbon finished for Dreifort, throwing two scoreless innings. The Dodgers left the desert with one victory in the four-game series, and that was reason for them to smile after what they were facing.

“What can I say? Dreifort was outstanding,” Manager Davey Johnson said. “He struggled a little bit in the fourth inning with his command, but by and large, it was a low-pitch game. He could have gone another inning the way he was going. I’m really pleased.

“For him to give me seven innings and beat Randy Johnson, that’s just what we needed. No question about it, Randy’s a heck of a pitcher, and Darren Dreifort is a heck of a pitcher too.”

Dreifort struck out five and walked four while throwing 89 pitches, 49 for strikes. He was much more effective than in his first outing, when he defeated the Colorado Rockies last Friday despite establishing a career high with six walks in five innings.

Dreifort continued his success at Bank One Ballpark, where he pitched his first complete game last season in a 5-0 shutout on May 22. Typically, Dreifort praised his teammates.

“I’ll tell you what--it was all defense,” Dreifort said. “Our guys just played outstanding defense all night.”

If not for rain, Dreifort wouldn’t have started Thursday.

Because of the rainout Sunday at Dodger Stadium, Johnson bumped every member of the five-man rotation one day. That meant staff ace Kevin Brown would not face Randy Johnson in a rematch of the opening-day starters in a game the Dodgers won in 11 innings, 8-6.

Although the season has only begun, the Dodgers were in an uncomfortable position Thursday, and they signed Brown to help them overcome such problems.

But Dreifort was just as good, his teammates said.

“That’s the sign of being an ace,” said leadoff batter Eric Young, who had a run-scoring triple in the Dodgers’ three-run fifth. “That’s the sign of being an ace pitcher right there. He stepped up in a big way, and that’s going to be a big confidence builder for him.

“When your No. 5 starter can stop a long losing streak, especially going against a team’s ace, that’s huge. It’s a confidence builder for him, and it let’s the team know that when he steps on the mound, we’ve got just as good a chance as with a No. 1 or No. 2 [starter].”

Johnson said he was comfortable with Dreifort on the mound. But even the supportive Johnson acknowledged Dreifort was facing a formidable task under the circumstances.

“Would I have minded having the other guy [Brown] out there? No, but I don’t mind having him out there either,” Johnson said. “This is all part of the learning process, and I think he’s up for these types of challenges.”

It appears so.