Sheffield Hasn’t Lost His Stroke

Gary Sheffield’s sore back is feeling better.

The all-star left fielder hit his 42nd home run Tuesday night in his return to the lineup in a 9-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants before 43,909 at Dodger Stadium.

Sheffield, sidelined seven games because of a lumbar strain, hit a three-run shot to left field in the fifth off Giant starter Russ Ortiz (13-12) on a full-count fastball.

“It seemed like a good pitch,” Ortiz said. “But he’s so strong and quick.”

Sheffield matched his most homers in a season, established a Dodger Stadium record with 23--Mike Piazza hit 22 in 1997--and helped starter Darren Dreifort (12-8) win after consecutive no-decisions.

Dreifort, who worked seven scoreless innings, and relievers Mike Fetters and Terry Adams limited the National League West champions to only two hits. Dreifort lowered his earned-run average from 4.33 to 4.17.

Fetters escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth and Adams pitched a perfect ninth for the second-place Dodgers (84-73), who have won three in a row, are 9-2 on the homestand and 11 games over .500 for the first time.

Kevin Elster’s pinch-hit home run in the eighth marked the Dodgers’ 12th this season, matching the major league record previously accomplished by the Cincinnati Reds in 1957 and the New York Mets in ’83. The Dodgers also tied the Brooklyn/Los Angeles franchise record with 208 homers, and leadoff batter Tom Goodwin matched his personal best with four hits while scoring three runs.

The Dodgers improved to 7-3 against the Giants (93-64), who trail the Atlanta Braves by a half-game for the best record in the league and home-field advantage in the playoffs.

*

The Dodgers plan to pursue Oakland A’s pitcher Kevin Appier to bolster their rotation, sources said.

The Dodgers want to add the veteran right-hander, who can become a free agent after the season, to a 2001 group that is expected to include Kevin Brown, Chan Ho Park, Darren Dreifort and Eric Gagne.

Appier--15-11 with a 4.56 ERA--is making $5.6 million in the final year of a four-year, $20-million contract.

He is believed to be seeking a four-year deal that will pay him between $8 million to $9 million a season.

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Tests on pitcher Ismael Valdes’ right pinkie did not reveal the cause of his discomfort, a team spokesman said. The right-hander is scheduled to undergo another test.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

LUKE PROKOPEC

(1-0, 1.69 ERA)

vs.

GIANTS’

KIRK RUETER

(10-9, 4.12 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7.

TV--Fox Sports Net 2. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

* Update--Prokopec has been impressive since being promoted from double-A San Antonio on Sept 1. The rookie right-hander hopes to earn a spot on the 2001 25-man roster. Rueter has had at least 10 victories the last four seasons. The left-hander is 5-4 with a 4.61 ERA against the Dodgers.