It’s Starting to Shape Up for Dreifort

Contrary to ongoing speculation, Darren Dreifort is in the Dodger starting rotation to stay.

The right-hander continued to prove his worth in that role Monday night by pitching eight strong innings during an 8-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers at County Stadium.

Dreifort 11-12 and second on the staff in victories, worked efficiently in winning in his second consecutive start and third in his last four, throwing 69 strikes in 99 pitches. He gave up seven hits--including a two-run homer to Jose Valentin in the seventh--and three runs while outdueling onetime Dodger sensation Hideo Nomo (10-6) before a crowd of 18,632.

Closer Jeff Shaw struck out Jeff Cirillo for the final out in the ninth with the bases loaded to earn his 26th save as the Dodgers (57-68), improved to 3-1 on the trip with two games remaining.

Dreifort, who tossed his second career shutout in his previous start, struck out four and walked only one during the game that was delayed by rain 2 hours 10 minutes.

Dreifort has been coming on strong recently with quality starts in five of his last seven outings. He has nine quality starts among 25 overall.

Leadoff hitter Eric Young scored twice and stole three bases to increase his team-leading total to 40.

The Dodgers stole a season-high seven bases. The franchise record is eight, which has been accomplished twice.

Nomo struggled with his command against the team for which he played from 1995-98. The right-hander, who has experienced a career rebirth in Milwaukee, walked four in the Dodgers’ five-run fifth, including two with the bases loaded.

Devon White’s bases-loaded three-run double in the inning provided a 6-0 cushion for Dreifort. White was thrown out at third trying for a triple, ending the inning. Nomo also was victimized by an error by Valentin at shortstop in the inning on a ball hit by Jose Vizcaino.

Valentin’s seventh homer of the season was the first by the Brewers (55-68) in 14 games. The Brewers went 557 at-bats between homers.

*

Dodger 1999 Season Almanac Through Monday

Dodger record:

overall: 57-68

in home games: 26-35

in road games: 31-33

vs. NL East: 19-15

vs. NL Central: 17-21

vs. NL West: 13-25

vs. American League: 8-7

vs. left-handed starter: 14-15

vs. right-handed starter: 43-53

on grass: 44-57

on artificial turf: 13-11

in day games: 17-15

in night games: 40-53

in one-run games: 18-22

DODGERS’

MIKE JUDD

(1-1, 5.84 ERA)

vs.

BREWERS’

SCOTT KARL

(8-10, 4.86 ERA)

County Stadium, 5 PDT

TV--Fox Sports West 2. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

* Update--Judd is making his third major league start. The rookie right-hander earned his first big-league victory in his first start Aug. 12, pitching 6 1/3 innings in a 10-5 victory over the Montreal Expos. He pitched six-plus innings last Tuesday in losing to the Florida Marlins, 6-1, at Dodger Stadium.