Kreuter Is Hot --With His Bat

Chad Kreuter may remember the 2000 season for the incident at Wrigley Field in which he was hit in the back of his head as his cap was stolen and he led the charge into the stands in pursuit of the culprit--ultimately drawing an eight-game suspension and $5,000 fine that is being appealed.

In the meantime, Kreuter is trying to provide other reasons to remember the season. Filling in for the injured Todd Hundley again Sunday, he homered, doubled and walked in an 8-7 loss to the Angels, lifting a hitting streak to 10 games in which he’s batting .394 with three home runs and seven runs batted in.

“Sure, the ego loves hitting,” Kreuter said, “but we’ve got a lot of hitters at the top of our lineup. I’m only trying to concern myself with defense, helping our pitchers win. More than the ego of hitting, I love wins as a catcher.”

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Gregg Olson, scheduled to make a Class-A rehabilitation appearance for San Bernandino at Rancho Cucamonga Sunday, was scratched after three warmup pitches with recurring discomfort in his straight right forearm. . . . The Dodgers bemoaned the strike zone of home plate umpire Chris Guccione Sunday, but two base running gaffes hurt: Eric Karros was thrown out trying to steal third with two out in the third, nullifying ball four to Kevin Elster, and then F.P. Santangelo, with two out and a 3-and-1 count on Shawn Green in the fourth, was picked off second by pitcher Jarrod Washburn. . . . The Dodgers had to lean on recently recalled Shawn Gilbert and Paul LoDuca for scouting reports on pitcher Ryan Glynn, who will make his major league starting debut for Texas tonight. Both faced Glynn in the Pacific Coast League last week.