Johnson Doing Better, Remains in Hospital

Manager Davey Johnson, who suffered from an irregular heartbeat Sunday morning, remained hospitalized Monday night.

Team physician Michael F. Mellman said that no cause was found for the irregularity and that he expected Johnson to rejoin the team “sometime during this home stand,” which runs through Sunday.

“He’s doing well and his heart rhythm is back to normal,” Mellman said.

“He’s taking his medication and we didn’t find anything of a problematic nature [with the heart itself].”

Johnson, who is at Centinela Hospital Medical Center, had a similar episode while managing the Baltimore Orioles in 1996. Mellman said the incidents are not related.

Johnson, 57, had been on medication to regulate his heart rhythm before this latest episode, Mellman said, and doctors are keeping him in the hospital while they adjust his medication to see how he reacts to it while he’s still under their care.

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To make room for Mike Judd, the Dodgers put catcher Todd Hundley on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 9, because of a broken right thumb.

Hundley, who injured the thumb on a foul tip at Seattle on July 7, said the injury affects the way he grips and throws the ball but does not affect his hitting.

“It’s the only time I wish I was in the American League so I could DH,” said Hundley, was spent a majority of June on the DL because of a strained right rib cage.

“I couldn’t even pound my glove. It’s so tender it’s unbelievable.”

Hundley said that while he plans on resting his throwing hand for a week he should be ready to come off the DL when he’s eligible to do so on Monday.

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“I was hoping for a miracle but it didn’t happen,” he said. “Throwing was real uncomfortable. It blew up, swelled up, after throwing. There’s no sense in pushing it.”

Hundley also said that the strong play of backup catcher Paul LoDuca made the decision to go on the DL easier for him to make.

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Devon White, who has been on the disabled list since May 5 after partially tearing his left rotator cuff diving for a ball, said he’s getting closer to returning to the club. But he doesn’t understand the interest in his nebulous return date.

“It feels all right but there’s just too many wondering when I’m coming back when the focus should be on the team winning right now,” he said.

“When I come back, hopefully it’s a plus, right?”

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Kevin Brown, who experienced tightness in his pitching shoulder over the weekend, threw his regular bullpen session Monday and reported no discomfort.

Brown is scheduled to pitch against the visiting Colorado Rockies on Wednesday.

“It feels pretty good. It’s not where it was biting me the other night,” he said.

TODAY

DODGERS’ MIKE JUDD

(No Record)

vs.

PIRATES’ TODD RITCHIE

(5-5, 4.38 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 1 p.m.

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

* Update--Judd will be making his first appearance with the Dodgers this season and facing the Pirates for the first time in his career. He was 4-4 with a 4.74 ERA in 16 appearances with triple-A Albuquerque. Last year, Judd went 3-1 with a 5.46 ERA in seven late-season games with the Dodgers. “I’m here for one start and hopefully things go well,” Judd said. “It’s an opportunity, and I hope to take advantage of that opportunity.” Paul LoDuca, who has caught many of Judd’s games with the Dukes, will be behind the plate today as well. Ritchie, who has won just one of his last seven starts, is 2-0 with a 3.47 ERA in three starts against the Dodgers.