Perez Sent to Cooler, er, Bullpen

Manager Davey Johnson continued to rearrange his starting pitching rotation Thursday, reinstating Darren Dreifort and bumping Carlos Perez to the bullpen indefinitely in the wake of his recent emotional outburst.

Johnson had moved Dreifort to the bullpen Tuesday and kept Perez in the rotation, figuring the move would benefit the team and the struggling pitchers. However, Johnson scrapped his initial plan after Wednesday’s 6-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

During that game, Perez used a bat to pummel a water cooler in the dugout because he was angry about being removed in the fourth inning, and frustrated by his horrible performance this season. The left-hander is 2-8 with a 7.38 earned-run average.

Dreifort is scheduled to start Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies.

With days off Monday and June 28, Johnson will employ a four-man rotation of Kevin Brown, Chan Ho Park, Ismael Valdes and Dreifort. Johnson hopes Perez regains his confidence while working out of the bullpen, though regaining velocity on his fastball would seemingly help Perez more.

“I want him to take some time to work on things,” Johnson said. “I want him to use this time now to get mentally and physically right.

“I told Carlos I’m behind him and I still believe in him. We’re all in this together, but he’s got some things he has to do. . . .

“I just wish he’d attack other hitters the way he attacked that water cooler.”

ON DECK

* Opponent--Philadelphia Phillies, three games.

* Site--Dodger Stadium.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--Channel 5 tonight, Channel 11 on Saturday, Fox Sports West 2 on Sunday.

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

* Records--Dodgers 30-34, Phillies 34-30.

* Record vs. Phillies--2-1.

* Tickets--(323) 224-1HIT.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ ISMAEL VALDES (5-5, 3.73 ERA)

vs.

PHILLIES’ CURT SCHILLING (8-4, 3.39 ERA)

* Update--The Dodgers haven’t provided Valdes with much support recently. Valdes has given up three or fewer earned runs in his last four starts, but the right-hander is 0-3 during that span.

* Saturday, 1 p.m.--Darren Dreifort (5-5, 6.42) vs. Robert Person (0-0, 8.62).

* Sunday, 1 p.m.--Kevin Brown (7-4, 2.98) vs. Chad Ogea (3-5, 5.16).