Johnson Hasn’t Found Himself Stuck in Middle

Throughout spring training, Dodger Manager Davey Johnson stressed that one of his main objectives would be strengthening his middle-relief corps.

Four weeks into the season, the work of the setup men has been one of the Dodgers’ greatest strengths.

Before Saturday’s game, Dodger relievers had given up five earned runs in 26 1/3 innings for a 1.71 earned-run average.

“We’re a pretty tight group,” said Terry Adams, who picked up the win Friday night to improve to 2-1 with a save and 1.50 ERA in 11 appearances. “I think the middle guys, we just want to keep it easy. Just go out there, keep us in the ballgame and give us a chance to win and give the ball to Jeff Shaw. We just made it simple.”

Shaw, who notched his sixth save Friday before blowing one Saturday, agreed.

“A lot of good closers are only as good as their setup guys,” said Shaw, who moved into sixth place on the all-time Dodger save list with 65. “When I played for Cincinnati, when I set up for [Jeff] Brantley that year [1996], he would always say that you could only get there by the guys that are in front of you.

“And Adams and [Mike] Fetters have been doing a great job of getting the ball to me in the ninth inning.”

Before Saturday’s game, the Dodger relievers as a group had a better ERA than the starting rotation, 3.42 to 4.55.

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Reliever Gregg Olson, on the disabled list because of a right (throwing) forearm strain, played catch and may throw a bullpen workout today to gauge his condition.

Olson, who signed as a free agent on Jan. 5, has not appeared for the Dodgers since giving up two runs on three hits in an inning against the New York Mets on April 8 at New York. He was put on the 15-day disabled list three days later, retroactive to April 9.

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Shortstop Alex Cora, who was demoted to triple-A Albuquerque toward the end of spring training because he has trouble hitting major league pitching, has seemingly found his stroke in the minors.

Cora was leading the Dukes in batting with a .400 average and had scored 13 runs with six doubles, two triples and 16 runs batted in through Friday. He also has a team-high five stolen bases while committing three errors in 21 games.

TODAY

DODGERS’ KEVIN BROWN (1-1, 3.50 ERA) vs. MARLINS’ ALEX FERNANDEZ (3-2, 3.82 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 1 p.m.

TV--Fox Sports Net 2.

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

* Update--Fernandez, one of only three players remaining from the Marlins’ 1997 World Series championship team (relief pitcher Antonio Alfonseca and left fielder Cliff Floyd are the others) is not sure how he survived the purge. “Don’t ask me,” he said. “I don’t know.” Maybe his being damaged goods during the Marlins’ fire sale had something to do with it. Fernandez sat out the 1998 season after undergoing surgery on a torn right rotator cuff. But he made a full recovery and started 24 games last year. He is 1-1 with a 6.35 ERA in two starts against the Dodgers, both in 1997. Brown, a teammate of Fernandez’s on the Marlins’ title team, is making his second start since coming off the disabled list after suffering a broken right pinky finger trying to bunt at New York on April 8. Brown is 1-1 with a 3.05 ERA in three starts against his former team.

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