More Shake-Ups for Dodger Roster

The reeling Dodgers made two major moves Tuesday, putting second baseman Mark Grudzielanek on the 15-day disabled list because of a sprained left ankle and sending struggling pitcher Eric Gagne to triple-A Las Vegas.

The club that is beset by injuries lost the consistent Grudzielanek a day after learning starter Andy Ashby must undergo season-ending elbow surgery, opening a hole in the infield and batting order, and Gagne’s growing pains prompted more shuffling of the pitching staff.

With that backdrop, the Dodgers defeated the Texas Rangers, 8-4, at Dodger Stadium. Alex Cora and Hiram Bocachica homered and Darren Dreifort (4-5) bounced back from a wild first inning to go 5 2/3 innings and get the victory.

Grudzielanek suffered the ankle injury in the eighth inning of Monday’s 12-7 loss to Texas, and is expected to be sidelined at least another 10 days while receiving therapy.

“It just seems like a lot of crazy stuff has happened to us this year,” said Grudzielanek, batting .311 with a team-high 71 hits, eight home runs and 33 runs batted in.

“One guy goes down, we get another guy back, and then something else happens. That’s the way it seems to be going for us, and we just have to keep battling like we have been. I’ll get my treatment and we’ll just see from there.”

The Dodgers view Gagne’s latest demotion as a form of therapy.

When Manager Jim Tracy moved Gagne to the bullpen June 4, he said the right-hander needed to be in the majors to improve.

That outlook changed because of the club’s roster problems and Gagne’s poor performance in relief. Gagne also split time last season between the Dodgers and triple A.

To fill the 25-man roster, the Dodgers purchased the contract of infielder Jeff Branson from Las Vegas and also recalled left-hander Jeff Williams from the 51s.

In 56 games at Las Vegas, Branson batted .215 with nine doubles and 10 RBIs. He has seven-plus seasons of service in the majors, and batted .235 in 18 games for the Dodgers last season.

Williams, coming off Oct. 10 surgery on his left wrist, was 5-3 with a 4.90 earned-run average in 11 starts for the 51s.

He was once considered a rotation candidate, but nerve damage weakened a muscle in his pitching hand and put him on the disabled list for most of 2000. Tracy said Williams will be used in long relief.

Gagne said he did not deserve to remain in the majors.

“I don’t think I should have been here anyway,” said Gagne, 1-4 with a 5.88 ERA in 16 appearances, including 12 starts.

“When you pitch like that, and go out there and give up eight, nine runs, you don’t expect to be in the big leagues. I don’t think I deserved to be here.

“I pitched really bad, I was just lucky I didn’t get more losses. Every time I [went] out there, the guys gave me nine or 10 runs. I just didn’t get the job done.”

The departure of Gagne caused further upheaval to a staff that is still missing No. 1 starter Kevin Brown, on the disabled list because of an irritated nerve in his neck.

Brown does not know when he will return, saying “I can’t make any projections.”

When Brown was put on the disabled list June 4, Tracy said he hoped the right-hander would miss only three or four starts.

However, Brown, who has decreased sensation in his pitching hand because of the injury, said his body is still not cooperating.

“I’m better than I was, but not as good as I need to be,” Brown said.

The Dodgers are also uncertain about when Gagne might return to the majors.

He is scheduled to start Sunday against the Nashville Sounds in Tennessee, and pitching coach Jim Colborn will be updated on his progress.

“This will give him an opportunity to go out and pitch a little, utilizing some some of the things that Colby and myself have been talking to him about,” Tracy said. “Hopefully, he can rectify all the different things that we feel he needs to address.”

Gagne said he knows what he must do in order to return to Chavez Ravine this season.

“I’m going to learn about myself,” Gagne said. “I was so down, I was so low, I was pitching so bad, and it’s not going to come back in two or three days.

“I’m going to go down there and work my behind off, come back and not be in the minors anymore. I’m tired of it.”