Miserable Night for Dreifort, Dodgers

Darren Dreifort had not experienced that miserable feeling after a defeat in quite a while.

The Pittsburgh Pirates ended his fun.

They pounded Dreifort on Monday night in a 12-1 victory at Dodger Stadium, handing the right-hander his first loss in more than two months.

The Pirates scored five runs against Dreifort (10-8) in a second inning highlighted by Brian Giles’ grand slam, sending 10 batters to the plate and stirring boos in a crowd of 31,418.

They were only getting started.

The Pirates scored seven runs in the sixth, chasing Dreifort and putting the game out of reach against the Dodger bullpen.

The Dodgers (73-65) couldn’t overcome Dreifort’s shaky 5 1/3-inning outing and lost the series opener after having swept the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Dodgers scored only one run in the first two innings despite getting six hits, adding to their frustration.

They dropped eight games behind the first-place San Francisco Giants in the National League West.

The Pirates (57-79) won their fourth in row behind left-hander Jimmy Anderson (5-8), who pitched a complete game in his first victory after three consecutive losses.

Anderson also had two hits and a run batted in, contributing to the Pirates’ 13-hit attack.

The Dodgers took another step backward with little time left and their fans’ hope dwindling--assuming they had any hope left.

“He just didn’t have really good command of the strike zone,” Manager Davey Johnson said of Dreifort, whose earned-run average increased from 4.36 to 4.61. “He was up [in the strike zone] and he threw a lot of pitches.”

Dreifort gave up seven hits--including two homers--and was charged with seven earned runs in his first loss since June 29.

He was 6-0 with a 2.56 ERA in six starts from July 17 through Aug. 13.

Dreifort had no-decisions in his last three starts with a 4.50 ERA, but also had a career-high 11 strikeouts Wednesday against the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Pirates weren’t impressed.

“He fell behind hitters, had to throw fastballs and they hit ‘em,” catcher Todd Hundley said. “It was just one of those days.”

Pat Meares’ two-out, solo home run got the Pirates started in the second. The No. 8 batter hit Dreifort’s first-pitch fastball into the seats in the left-field corner for his 11th homer.

Anderson singled through the middle, Adrian Brown beat out an infield single and Jason Kendall walked to load the bases.

Giles quickly cleared the bases, hitting a 1-and-0 fastball over the wall in left for his team-leading 32nd homer and first grand slam this season.

“I’ve got to make him beat me the other way,” Dreifort said of Giles, who had three homers in seven at-bats off him before Monday. “He did.”

Giles seemed to know what was coming.

“A guy that has good stuff like he does,” Giles said of Dreifort, “is going to go after you.”

Dreifort’s work ended in the sixth after Brown walked with one out and Kendall singled.

Enter Onan Masaoka.

The left-hander has spent most of the season at triple-A Albuquerque because of problems with his command.

His work is not finished.

Masaoka walked two to force in a run, and gave up a two-run single and run-scoring double before Johnson removed him.

“Our bullpen didn’t give [Dreifort] a lot of help,” Johnson said. “Masaoka . . . that’s probably as bad as I’ve seen him.”

Matt Herges didn’t fare much better.

The usually dependable right-hander gave up a two-run double, closing the book on Masaoka.

Masaoka, who failed to retire a batter in the inning, was charged with four runs. The Pirates sent 11 batters to the plate, and the Dodgers moved closer to beginning their off-season vacations.

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THE RACES

* Dodgers trail San Francisco by eight games in the NL West.

* Dodgers trail New York by 6 1/2 games for the wild card.