Adams Goes Eight in Sweep of Pirates

Terry Adams pitched a career-high eight innings, Adrian Beltre hit his ninth home run and Matt Herges recorded his first save as the Dodgers completed a three-game sweep Tuesday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-1, before 30,150 at PNC Park.

Batting instructor Jack Clark also delivered an inspired performance after umpire Mark Hirschbeck ejected him in the first inning for arguing strikes--throwing his cap at Hirschbeck, covering the plate with dirt and tossing bats on the field.

The outburst will undoubtedly result in disciplinary action, but Clark doesn’t care because he accomplished his goal.

“There were some bad calls, terrible calls, so if anybody’s going to get kicked out, it’s better if I get kicked out than they do,” said Clark, restrained by Manager Jim Tracy and third base coach Glenn Hoffman.

The Dodgers (52-42) pulled within 2 1/2 games of the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West.

Adams (5-3) gave up a run in the first and then got into a groove. Pirate starter Jimmy Anderson (5-9) gave up seven hits--including Beltre’s two-run homer in the fourth--and four runs in five innings.

The Pirates got five hits against Adams, who had seven strikeouts and two walks, and Herges worked a perfect ninth.

“I guess all that stuff that happened after our half inning kind of threw me off a little bit, just not knowing where the strike zone’s going to be and how it’s going to affect me and how the umpire’s going to react to my situation,” Adams said. “Maybe I was just a little tentative in the first inning. After I got out of that inning, I just settled down a little bit and went back to my game.”

Veteran knuckleballer Dennis Springer--4-5 with a 4.23 earned-run average at triple-A Las Vegas--will start Friday against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, Tracy said. . . . Because of payroll concerns, the Dodgers rejected a trade that would have brought them San Diego Padre starter Woody Williams, baseball sources said. Williams is owed about $2.5 million for the remainder of this season, and has a $6.25-million option for 2002. . . . Jerry Weinstein, director of player development, has been fired.

ON DECK

Opponent--Milwaukee Brewers, two games.

Site--Dodger Stadium.

Tonight--7.

TV--Fox Sports Net 2.

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

Records--Dodgers 52-42, Brewers 43-49.

Record vs. Brewers--1-0.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

CHAN HO PARK

(8-6, 3.20 ERA)

vs.

BREWERS’

ALLEN LEVRAULT

(4-3, 5.05 ERA)

Update--Park pitched eight scoreless innings and Gary Sheffield homered in the eighth inning of a 1-0 opening-day victory over the Brewers at Dodger Stadium.

Thursday, 1 p.m.--Luke Prokopec (6-4, 3.96) vs. Jamey Wright (8-5, 3.06).