Hundley Up to Task in 4-2 Win; Pena Sent Down

Angel Pena, considered the Dodger catcher of the future, was a bright ray of hope during the dark days when starting catcher Todd Hundley’s aching elbow left him about as effective behind home plate as the backstop.

So perhaps it was fitting that Sunday, the day Hundley hit the game-deciding three-run homer in the sixth inning of the Dodgers’ 4-2 victory over the National League West-leading Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium, Pena was sent to triple-A Albuquerque.

The reason for the move is that the two catchers have been heading in opposite directions. Hundley had previously struggled so much, both behind and at the plate that the Dodgers benched the 10-year veteran and gave the starting job to the 24-year-old Pena.

Hundley went back to basics in a series of hard-working sessions under coach Rick Dempsey, a former catcher.

In the meantime, Pena struggled. He has hit only .208 with four home runs and 21 runs batted in in 43 games. He also struggled behind the plate.

With Hundley proclaiming that his elbow “feels the best it has since I was 21,” the Dodgers decided that leaving Pena, 24, on the bench at the major league level was not a good idea.

“He needs to play,” Dodger Manager Davey Johnson said. “He needs to work on some things. I didn’t want him sitting here. He needs to work on receiving the ball. He needs to work on blocking balls.

“He is not doing as well as I know he can. We have set a higher standard for him.”

Said Hundley: “Angel is a very good catcher. I wish him all the luck in the world. He is a quality big-league catcher and he will be back.

“This is the side of baseball that is not fun, but it happens.”

The Dodgers have recalled catcher Paul LoDuca from Albuquerque to back up Hundley. LoDuca hit .056 with the Dodgers in 14 games earlier this season.

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It should come as no surprise that Hundley hit a home run off Arizona starter and loser Andy Benes (6-10). In 48 previous at-bats against Benes, Hundley had five home runs and eight RBIs.

Onan Masaoka (2-2) pitched two innings to get the victory and Jeff Shaw pitched the ninth for his 22nd save.

Despite the victory, the Dodgers finished the homestand 2-5.

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Dodger right-handed reliever Antonio Osuna will undergo surgery to repair a torn ligament in his throwing elbow Thursday morning at Centinela Hospital Medical Center.

Plagued by elbow problems since last August when he had bone spurs removed, Osuna had appeared in only five games . His earned-run average was 7.71 and he did not have a decision.