Borbon’s Performance Has Become Cause for Concern

Pitcher Pedro Borbon has been living a nightmare during the second half of the season, getting pounded in seemingly every appearance.

After emerging as the Dodgers’ most effective reliever before the All-Star break, the left-hander has given up 12 earned runs in his last 10 2/3 innings. He failed to record an out in the seventh inning of the Dodgers’ 9-7 victory over Philadelphia on Sunday.

He gave up a two-run home run for the second time in as many days and hit a batter before Manager Davey Johnson yanked him from the game. He has a 10.12 earned-run average in 19 outings during the second half, increasing his overall ERA from 1.64 to 3.71 in 58 appearances.

Borbon is pitching in the big leagues for the first time since 1996 after spending the previous two seasons rehabilitating from reconstructive surgery on his pitching elbow. He had been the surprise of the bullpen, making the opening-day roster out of spring training as a non-roster player.

But after all the work it took for Borbon to make it back, might he simply be out of gas at this point?

“No, that has nothing to do with it,” Borbon said. “It took a lot of hard work for me to get here, but none of that has anything to do with why I’m struggling right now. I’m just in a bad slump right now. I’m not going to make any excuses, I’ve just been bad.

“But my arm feels very strong, probably the strongest it has felt all season. I’m not having any problems with it, and I don’t feel like I need a rest. If anything, I just need more work.”

So, what’s the problem?

“I think it’s a lack of concentration more than anything else,” Borbon said. “I’m not pitching the way I’m accustomed to pitching, and it’s very frustrating when you’re hurting your team.”

*

Rookie right-hander Jamie Arnold was optioned to triple-A Albuquerque after Sunday’s game and right-hander Matt Herges was recalled.

Team officials want Arnold to work as a starter with the Dukes, making him a candidate for the Dodger rotation next season.

On Deck

* Opponent--Milwaukee Brewers, three games.

* Site--County Stadium, Milwaukee.

* Tonight--5 PDT.

* TV--Fox Sports West 2 today and Tuesday.

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

* Records--Dodgers 56-68, Brewers 55-67.

* Record vs. Brewers--3-0.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ DARREN DREIFORT

(10-12, 5.30 ERA)

vs.

BREWERS’ HIDEO NOMO

(10-5, 4.46 ERA)

* Update--Dreifort tossed his second career shutout Wednesday in the Dodgers’ 7-0 victory over the Florida Marlins at Dodger Stadium. Dreifort displayed outstanding command, striking out four without a walk. Onetime Dodger sensation Nomo has experienced a career rebirth in Milwaukee.

* Tuesday, 5 p.m.--Mike Judd (1-1, 5.84) vs. Scott Karl (8-10, 4.86).

* Wednesday, 11 a.m.--Kevin Brown (14-6, 3.12) vs. Bill Pulsipher (3-4, 5.16).