Elster Feels Right at Home

It happens every Saturday, all across Southern California: A kid gets up, gets dressed, gives his mom a kiss and hurries off to his baseball game.

That’s what Kevin Elster did Saturday, and the Dodger infielder isn’t the least embarrassed about living with his parents, even if he is 35. Can’t beat that home cooking, you know.

“They’ll probably have a bunch of hamburgers on the barbecue by the time I get home from the game,” Elster said.

Elster, who lives in Las Vegas but grew up in Huntington Beach, used to stay with his parents whenever his teams played in Southern California. When he joined the Dodgers, his parents invited him to live at home whenever the Dodgers were home. And so he does, with mom and dad and his dog.

“They’re getting pretty attached to the dog,” Elster said.

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Pitching coach Claude Osteen rejoined the Dodgers at Edison Field on Saturday, after intense pain--and the subsequent discovery of kidney stones--forced him to be hospitalized overnight at UCI Medical Center in Orange.

“It was like somebody stabbing you in the back,” he said. “I’ve never had pain like that.”

The pain started Wednesday, eased Thursday and returned Friday. Doctors discharged Osteen after he no longer complained of pain, though they couldn’t tell him whether he had one stone or two and whether they had passed.

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In his last four starts, including Friday’s 12-5 loss to the Angels, Darren Dreifort is 0-2 with a 9.78 earned-run average. Manager Davey Johnson suspects a mechanical flaw.

“We’ll have to look at him close,” Johnson said.

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong,” Dreifort said.

In the first of those four starts, May 17 at Chicago, Dreifort jammed his knee while sliding. But he said his recent struggles are neither mechanical nor physical in nature, simply the result of poor command.

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The Dodgers cut left-handed reliever Trever Miller, two weeks after they claimed him on waivers. In two games, Miller gave up eight hits in 2 1/3 innings and posted a 23.14 ERA.

The Dodgers officially designated Miller for assignment and plan to assign him to triple-A Albuquerque if he clears waivers. General Manager Kevin Malone said the Dodgers would like to try Miller as a starter.

To replace Miller, the Dodgers recalled left-hander Onan Masaoka, who walked 29 in 24 2/3 innings at Albuquerque. The Dodgers also are eyeing Adrian Burnside (4-3, 2.78 at double-A San Antonio) and hoping a left-hander might become available in a trade.

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Outfielder Todd Hollandsworth left the game in the ninth inning because of a strained right hamstring. He will be evaluated today. . . . Reliever Gregg Olson is scheduled to begin a rehabilitation assignment at Class-A San Bernardino today. Orel Hershiser is scheduled to make his second start for San Bernardino on Monday. . . . The Dodgers put outfielder Geronimo Berroa on the disabled list because of a bruised left foot and promoted utilityman Shawn Gilbert from Albuquerque.