Beltre Continues to Impress With Two Hits and Run Batted In

Adrian Beltre is performing as his teammates expected, and they figure they haven’t seen everything yet.

The second-year third baseman is batting .355 (27 for 76) after going two for four with a run batted in Friday during the Dodgers’ 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. Beltre had a career-high four hits in five at-bats Thursday in a 10-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Beltre continues to impress his doting teammates.

“He’s a real special young player,” left fielder Gary Sheffield said. “When I watched him last year, I could tell he was overwhelmed with the pitching he was facing, and just everything going on.

“Now, you can just see how much more relaxed he is. In everything he does, in the way he approaches his business. He’s talking a lot more out there, and when a young player talks, you know he’s feeling good.”

Beltre is 12 for 26 (.462) in his last seven games. He has one home run and 13 RBIs, and he’s playing well in the field despite committing his third error Friday.

“I don’t want to say too much about this guy now because he’s young,” said pitcher Carlos Perez, who won Friday’s game. “If you start to talk about him, it might not be good. You want him to keep going straight, so I don’t want to say nothing. But he’s a tremendous young player.”

Beltre has remained focused.

“I just feel good [that] I’m helping the team now,” he said. “I feel good [at the plate], and this helps my confidence. But I just want to keep playing the same way every day.”

*

Dodger Manager Davey Johnson gambled in the ninth inning, instructing closer Jeff Shaw to intentionally walk Rico Brogna with a runner on second and two out. Brogna represented the winning run.

Johnson figured that was the correct move with struggling slugger Ron Gant on deck, but he acknowledged it was risky.

“Normally, you don’t put the winning run on base, and I’ve seen Ron Gant look awful a whole game, and then, ‘Boom,’ ” Johnson said. “It was an emotional decision for me, but I knew I had to do it.”

Shaw struck out Gant to end the game.

*

Catcher Todd Hundley got his first hit with a runner in scoring position--he’s one for 14 in that situation--when he singled to right with Devon White on second base in the fifth inning. Hundley is still seeking his first RBI with a runner in scoring position because White was wisely held at third by coach Rick Dempsey. White scored on a single by Beltre. . . . Antonio Osuna was expected to pitch for Class-A San Bernardino in a rehabilitation outing late Friday night. Osuna, on the disabled list because of a bone spur in his throwing elbow, is expected to rejoin the Dodgers Monday.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ DARREN DREIFORT (3-1, 4.64 ERA)

vs.

PHILLIES’ PAUL SPOLJARIC (0-2, 13.00 ERA)

Veterans Stadium, 4 PDT

TV--Channel 5. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

* Update--Dreifort has struggled with his command in three of his four starts. The right-hander leads the National League with 22 walks and four wild pitches but is overpowering when he throws strikes. He has struck out 16 in 21 1/3 innings while limiting opponents to a .192 batting average, ranking second in the league. Dreifort is coming off his worst performance, in a 6-4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals last Sunday at Dodger Stadium. He was chased after four innings, giving up seven hits and five runs (four earned). Spoljaric is making his first start at Veterans Stadium and the second appearance of his career against the Dodgers.