Dodgers Find They Can Lean on Staff a Bit

By JASON REID

June 8, 2000 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

ARLINGTON, Texas —

Darren Dreifort improved and Jeff Shaw returned to give the Dodgers hope on the pitching front.

They’re still doing fine offensively after another productive performance Wednesday afternoon in an 11-6 interleague victory over the Texas Rangers.

Dreifort pitched seven innings and earned his first victory in almost a month. The right-hander struggled at times but overcame his problems in pitching as many innings as he did in his previous two starts combined.

Reliever Jeff Shaw, who worked for the first time since being removed from the closer’s role, pitched a scoreless ninth. His pitches had better velocity.

The Dodgers pounded the Rangers for the second time in as many days while winning two of three in the series. They had 15 hits--including six doubles--and chased Texas ace Rick Helling in the sixth before 35,860 at The Ballpark in Arlington.

Leadoff batter F.P. Santangelo and Mark Grudzielanek were an effective tandem atop the order.

Santangelo, emerging from his season-long slump, had three hits and scored two runs. Grudzielanek had three hits and a game-high three runs batted in after getting three of the Dodgers’ 14 hits in Tuesday’s 7-1 victory.

The Dreifort-Shaw combination and timely hitting helped the Dodgers (31-25) move to within 2 1/2 games of the sputtering Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West. The Dodgers were pleased about the brief and successful trip--but Dreifort and Shaw provided the best news.

“Dreifort was a little shaky early, but he got into a little groove and had a well-pitched game against a good-hitting ballclub,” Dodger Manager Davey Johnson said. “He had some problems the last couple of times out, but I really liked what I saw today as he got deeper into it.

“It was good to have [Shaw] back out there. He was popping a few pitches, and that was fun to see. We need him out there. We need both of them.”

Dreifort (4-3) needed to throw strikes more frequently and did. He gave up 15 hits and 13 earned runs in losing his last two starts.

It appeared the bullpen would be needed quickly Wednesday too.

The Dodgers staked Dreifort to a 4-0 lead in the second. However, the Rangers made Dreifort work.

They cut the lead to 5-4 in the fifth and Dreifort was getting hit hard. It helped that Helling (7-4) had bigger problems with the Dodgers.

The right-hander gave up a career-high 11 hits in five-plus innings. The Dodgers took command, 9-4, and ended Helling’s work with a four-run sixth.

Dreifort gave up nine hits and four runs. He struck out six and walked two while throwing 66 strikes in 102 pitches.

“I’ll take a win any way I can get it,” Dreifort said. “If I give up a bunch of runs and we score a bunch of runs, a win is still a win.

“I had a pretty good rhythm going with [catcher Chad] Kreuter and I stayed with it. I’m not worried about anything other than winning.”

Pitching coach Claude Osteen saw improvement but acknowledged Dreifort still isn’t sharp.

“Dreifort was better today, but he still has a ways to go before he gets back to where I think he was [earlier in the season],” Osteen said. “His stuff has been there. That hasn’t been the problem.

“He’s kind of losing the count [during at-bats] more than I think he should. He’s good for two pitches, he’s in the driver’s seat, and then he lets it go too far.”

The Dodgers are grading Shaw differently. They want the right-hander to ease into work after taking time off to strengthen his weakened pitching rotator cuff.

He gave up only a two-out double to David Segui. The Dodgers said Shaw’s pitches were sharper and harder than they have been recently, but Johnson hasn’t decided when Shaw will resume closing.

“Whatever he wants to do,” said Shaw, who leads the team with 11 saves. “I had good velocity, better location and I felt much better. More than anything, taking the time off probably helped the most.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Start of Turnaround?

Darren Dreifort improved his record to 4-3 with a victory against Texas on Wednesday. In his previous four starts he was 0-2, giving up 21 earned runs in 19 2/3 innings. His last five starts:

*--*

Opp. Inn H ER SO BB Texas 7 9 4 6 2 Angels 4 9 7 1 4 Phil. 3 6 6 5 3 Cin. 8 6 2 4 0 Chi. 4 1/3 7 6 3 3

*--*

Rocker Hasn’t Gone to Minors

John Rocker says he’s so unhappy with the way the Atlanta Braves have treated him, he might quit baseball. D6

A Rift Between Baylor and Sosa

Cub Manager Don Baylor plans to meet with Sammy Sosa, who is upset by criticism from Baylor. D5

Kile in Control for Cardinals

Darryl Kile struck out 10 and won his ninth game of the season as St. Louis defeated Kansas City, 4-2. D4

American vs. National

2000: Wins

AL: 47