Dreifort Sprains Elbow in Win

A four-game winning streak and it’s still bad news for the Dodgers.

Gary Sheffield’s two-run home run in the seventh inning Friday night at Qualcomm Stadium made the difference in a 7-5 victory over the San Diego Padres, but Darren Dreifort had to leave in the sixth inning because of a sprained elbow.

Dreifort, in the first year of a five-year, $55-million contract, had just struck out Padre catcher Ben Davis when he could not continue.

Manager Jim Tracy and trainer Matt Wilson rushed to the mound, and pitching coach Jim Colborn was not far behind.

Dreifort, whose arm was wrapped as he left the stadium, will have an MRI exam and is expected to go on the disabled list.

“I don’t have a comment right now,” Dreifort said. “As soon as I have one, I’ll give it to you.”

The Dodgers said the MRI would be Tuesday, but sources said it could be as soon as today.

“We have to wait and see,” Tracy said, “but the last couple of pitches he threw weren’t really good.

“When you have a starting pitcher that apologizes to me for having to come out of the game, is there anything more you can say about what that guy is all about?”

Catcher Paul Lo Duca knew something was wrong.

“He’s been pitching hurt all year and hasn’t said a word,” Lo Duca said. “He showed me a lot of guts. I saw on the [radar] gun he was 86-88 [mph]. I kept going out and asking him how he was. After that [final pitch] I wasn’t leaving the mound without him. It’s his career.”

The bullpen picked up the slack. Jeff Williams (1-0) and Matt Herges each pitched 1 1/3 innings, and Jeff Shaw worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his 21st save.

Dreifort gave up six hits--including Bubba Trammell’s 13th homer--and five earned runs in 5 1/3 innings. The right-hander, who has one victory since May 21, struck out six and walked five while throwing only 46 strikes in 87 pitches.

“It’s another hurdle for the team,” Colborn said. “Everyone feels pretty sad for him. Nobody is more conscientious and dedicated to supporting the team than him. I know he continued to pitch after he was hurt at least for an inning. He threw all sliders at one point because he couldn’t throw his fastball and when he did he threw it about 80 [mph].”

Dreifort sat out the 1995 season after reconstructive surgery on his pitching elbow.

Dreifort, who had experienced elbow soreness in his last few starts, has a salary of $9 million this season.

Dreifort’s salary escalates to $11 million in 2003 and ‘04, then $13 million in ’05. The package includes bonuses for being selected to the All-Star game, finishing among the leaders in awards balloting and a complete no-trade clause.

His contract is insured--but not this season. Dreifort’s salary would be paid in subsequent seasons if he suffered a season-ending injury.

“We have to wait to see what the MRI says,” said Scott Boras, Dreifort’s agent. ‘But Darren, in the last couple of innings, was in a lot of pain.”

In his last six starts, Dreifort is 1-4 with two no-decisions and a 6.82 earned-run average.

Sheffield put the Dodgers ahead for the second time, 6-5, with a two-run homer to left-center against Adam Eaton (8-4) in the seventh.

With Mark Grudzielanek on first after a leadoff single, Sheffield hit his 16th homer on an 0-2 count. Sheffield also hit the first of three Dodger homers in the eighth inning of Thursday’s 7-4 victory.

The Dodgers took the lead, 4-3, with two runs in the third, but the Padres reclaimed it, 5-4, on Trammell’s two-run homer in the bottom of the inning.

The Padres sent eight batters to the plate in the first and scored three runs after the Dodgers botched a rundown play.

Mark Kotsay walked with one out, advanced to second on Ryan Klesko’s single and third on Phil Nevin’s fly ball.

With Mike Darr batting, Dreifort caught Klesko leaning at first on a pickoff throw, which would have been the third out.

Unfortunately for the Dodgers, first baseman Eric Karros waited too long to make a throw. Kotsay broke for the plate and retreated to third ahead of Karros’ throw, and Klesko was also safe at first. Darr then singled through the hole at first to drive in Kotsay, and Davis had a two-run single after Trammell walked to load the bases.