Interventions Worked With Beltre

The Dodgers were at their wits’ end with third baseman Adrian Beltre.

Team officials were disappointed in Beltre’s poor work ethic after they rewarded him with a three-year, $5.05-million contract in the off-season.

Manager Davey Johnson was frustrated with a seemingly unconcerned Beltre, who was batting .251 at the All-Star break.

Many people close to Beltre confronted him, and Beltre’s agent, Scott Boras, challenged him in a heated conversation shortly before the break.

Beltre responded.

He has batted .358 with 35 runs batted in since the break. His teammates said Beltre has rededicated himself, improving his focus in batting practice and fielding drills.

Beltre has raised his average to .294 after batting .444 on the eight-game trip. And although Beltre has a team-high 20 errors, he has been better in the field recently.

Beltre appreciates the kick he received.

“A lot of people talked to me, and that was good for me,” said Beltre, who has 14 home runs and 73 RBIs. “They told me I wasn’t doing everything I could because they know I have the talent, and I needed to do start doing stuff better.

“[Batting coach] Rick Down and [catcher Todd Hundley] told me different things about hitting and keeping my head up. I knew I had to change some things, but sometimes you don’t [realize] you’re doing something unless somebody tells you.”

Hundley said Beltre also needed a pat on the back.

“A lot of times when you’re as young as he is, you just need someone to show confidence in you,” Hundley said of Beltre, 21. “We have confidence in him, but sometimes you just need to hear it from a player.”

Beltre hopes fans understand he’s still maturing.

“I’m still young and I haven’t had a lot of time up here,” said Beltre, in his second full season. “I’m still learning. I still feel like I’m a rookie.”

*

Left fielder Gary Sheffield, who missed the trip because of flu, will start tonight against the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium, Johnson said.

“If he comes out and has got his uniform on by game time, he’s in there,” Johnson said. “I’ll get him out of there in the eighth inning with a lead after he hits.”

Sheffield acknowledged he has not recovered completely, but he said he is well enough to return.

“I’m a lot better now,” Sheffield said in a phone interview. “I still have a little chest cold, but I’ve played with worse.”

The Dodgers were 8-3 in his absence.

*

With rosters expanding today, the Dodgers plan to recall catcher Paul LoDuca and pitcher Onan Masaoka from triple-A Albuquerque, and pitcher Luke Prokopec from double-A San Antonio.

LoDuca, twice previously on the 25-man roster this season, batted .351 with four homers and 54 RBIs for the Dukes.

Masaoka, in the majors all of last season, was 3-1 with a 3.86 earned-run average at Albuquerque. Prokopec was 7-3 with a 2.45 ERA for the Missions.

ON DECK * Opponent--Philadelphia Phillies, three games.

* Site--Dodger Stadium.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--Fox Sports Net 2 every game.

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

* Records--Dodgers 70-64, Phillies 56-76.

* Record vs. Phillies--2-4.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ ISMAEL VALDES

(2-6, 5.94 ERA)

vs.

PHILLIES’ RANDY WOLF

(10-7, 4.46 ERA)

* Update--This is an important start for Valdes, who might be demoted to the bullpen if he continues to struggle. The right-hander is 0-2 with a 7.33 earned-run average in four starts in his second Dodger stint. Valdes has given up 42 hits in 27 innings, and opponents are batting .362 against him. Wolf, a standout at Woodland Hills El Camino Real High and Pepperdine, leads the Phillies with 167 1/3 innings pitched.

* Saturday, 7 p.m.--Bruce Chen (6-2, 3.32) vs. Kevin Brown (12-5, 2.71).

* Sunday, 5 p.m.--Robert Person (7-4, 3.19) vs. Chan Ho Park (14-8, 3.60).