Dreifort Just Can't Soothe the Dodgers

By JASON REID

June 25, 2001 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

The Dodgers were booed Sunday after a 6-1 loss to the San Diego Padres, who swept a three-game series at Dodger Stadium and stirred more questions about the spiraling $110-million club.

Concerns about Darren Dreifort still top the list.

Many in a crowd of 37,136 focused their frustration on the struggling starter, booing Dreifort (4-7) while the Padres scored three runs and chased him in the sixth.

Dreifort, who has failed to work at least seven innings in his last four starts, lowered his earned-run average from 4.95 to 4.94 in a 5 2/3-inning outing, but fans expect more of the $55-million pitcher.

Manager Jim Tracy does too.

“I’ve been asked that question [what’s wrong with Dreifort?] numerous times, and I wish I had an answer,” said Tracy, whose team is 38-36 after dropping six of seven.

“It’s a situation where he gives up his first base hit in the fifth inning, and he’s going along, and then we had the problems in the sixth inning.

“I wish I had an answer with regard to [Dreifort’s] situation. I really do, but I just don’t.”

Dreifort gave up four hits, walked five and struck out six. He threw only 51 strikes in 97 pitches.

In a postgame radio interview, pitching coach Jim Colborn said the right-hander, who has a reconstructed pitching elbow, experienced elbow stiffness in the sixth.

However, Colborn, after consulting with team trainers, said it was “nothing out of the ordinary” for a starter after pitching.

Dreifort, who declined comment, gave up only a single to Mike Darr and walked three through five innings of a scoreless game.

But following a troubling pattern for the Dodgers, Dreifort again had problems, this time in the sixth inning.

He gave up a two-out, run-scoring single to Phil Nevin, and a two-run single to Bubba Trammell that ended his work.

The support was more than enough for Padre starter Adam Eaton (8-3), who pitched his second career complete game in helping the Padres (35-40) sweep the Dodgers in Los Angeles for the first time since June 22-24, 1999.

Eaton gave up only three hits--including Gary Sheffield’s 14th home run in the seventh.

Beginning the weekend series, the National League West’s last-place team was 6-19 in its previous 25 games and had lost eight consecutive series.

Apparently, the Dodgers were just what they needed.

“They’re the Dodgers, I mean, regardless of where their record is or what they’ve done, it’s just like playing the Yankees--games that you just get up for,” said Nevin, who also hit a two-run home run, No. 18, against closer Jeff Shaw in the ninth.

“You’re up, coming to Dodger Stadium, and coming to the game. I like playing here, and of course, getting a three-game sweep, yeah, it feels good.”

Nothing is going right for the third-place Dodgers, who trail first-place Arizona by 7 1/2 games.

Even the return of No. 1 starter Kevin Brown did not brighten their mood--in part because reliever Mike Fetters was put on the 15-day disabled list.

The bullpen was depleted and Brown had not pitched since May 29, so Tracy summoned him in relief of Giovanni Carrara with the bases loaded in the seventh

Brown, making only his third relief appearance in 393 games, retired Darr on a groundout to escape the jam. He pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

“It’s been a while,” said Brown, scheduled to start Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants at Pacific Bell Park.

“It was nice to get back out there. I would rather it been in a different situation, but it was nice to get my feet wet.”

The Dodgers begin a seven-game trip tonight against the Giants and Padres, and they are only 13-21 away from Chavez Ravine.

“We’ve got Browine back, Chan Ho [Park] and Brownie are going the next couple of days, and those are big games we have to win,” right fielder Shawn Green said. “We’ve still got over half a season left, so it’s not panic time, but we still want to turn it around as soon as possible.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

FALLING DOWN

After a .500 record in April and May, Darren Dreifort has had a rough month of June:

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W-L IP ERA BB SO April 1-1 30 5.10 8 27 May 2-2 33 3.55 16 34 June 1-4 26 1/3 6.49 18 24 Totals 4-7 89 1/3 4.94 42 85

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Another Injury: Mike Fetters was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a stiff neck.D9