Malone Dialed In to What Elster’s Contributions Mean

Shortstop Kevin Elster received a phone message in his hotel room Sunday that surprised and pleased him.

General Manager Kevin Malone called to congratulate him on his performance, and to thank him for his contributions so far. Malone ended the call by wishing Elster and his family a happy Easter.

Elster, 35, has experienced many things during his long career, but Malone’s kind gesture was a first.

“I mean, my general manager called to just say thanks and happy Easter, and that doesn’t happen,” he said. “I’ve been a lot of places, and I’ve never gotten a call like that. . . . It makes you feel good.”

Elster, who had the day off Sunday, is batting .300 (12 for 40) with five home runs and 12 runs batted in. He hit three homers April 11 against the San Francisco Giants to help ruin the opener at Pacific Bell Park.

His grand slam Friday from the No. 8 spot capped a 9-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in the series opener. He has protected the Nos. 6 and 7 batters better than Manager Davey Johnson anticipated, and Johnson expected plenty from Elster.

“He either gets a walk or hits one out,” Johnson said, somewhat jokingly. “[Pitchers] know it’s going to be easy facing our eight hole. He just keeps going and going.”

Elster said things couldn’t be going better.

“I’m happy about the way I’m playing and everything on the field, and the way the organization has treated me has been great,” he said. “When you get a call like that from your GM, it just really makes you feel like you’re part of a family.”

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Pitcher Chan Ho Park said the blister that forced him from Saturday’s victory won’t prevent him from making his next scheduled start Thursday against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field.

“It’s good,” said Park, whose middle finger was covered by a bandage. “I don’t think it’s too bad now.”

The right-hander pitched five innings in the 16-2 victory, leaving because blood filled the blister. Team trainer Stan Johnston drained Park’s blister after he was removed and has been treating the problem since.

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Kevin Brown’s bullpen session Sunday went fine, and the right-hander is scheduled to be activated from the disabled list Tuesday.

Brown worked in the bullpen with his pinky finger, still healing after being broken, sealed to his ring finger with a substance called Dermabond to help stabilize it. Johnston said Brown might pitch with his fingers bonded against the Braves on Tuesday.

ON DECK

* Opponent--New York Mets, one game.

* Site--Shea Stadium.

* Today--10 a.m. PDT.

* TV--Fox Sports Net 2.

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

* Records--Dodgers 11-6, Mets 12-7.

* Record vs. Mets--1-1.

TODAY

DODGERS’ DARREN DREIFORT (1-1, 3.38 ERA) vs. METS’ PAT MAHOMES (1-0, 2.25 ERA)

* Update--This game was added to the schedule after the clubs’ April 9 meeting was postponed by snow. Dreifort, pitching on six days’ rest, struggled with his command April 7 during his season-opening outing against the Mets. Despite walking eight, the right-hander gave up only two runs in a 2-1 loss. He is 2-2 with a 3.09 ERA in 14 appearances against the Mets. The Mets are coming off a three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs and have won seven straight. Rick Reed was scratched from today’s scheduled start after being hit with a line drive and suffering a bruised left hand Wednesday.