Daal Pitches In Another Win

Dodger ace Kevin Brown is tentatively scheduled to come off the disabled list Tuesday, which means Omar Daal, who in the words of his manager was “brilliant” in Wednesday night’s 5-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, will go back to the bullpen.

Daal, 30, is a luxury the Dodgers can afford, a $5-million insurance policy in case one of their starting pitchers gets hurt, but Daal’s predicament could put a crimp in his career, possibly costing him millions.

The veteran left-hander, who gave up one run and five hits in six innings of a victory before 14,057 at PNC Park that assured the Dodgers of their fifth series win in seven series this season, will be a free agent next winter, and there isn’t a bustling market for long relievers.

“I have to do the best for the team, but on the other side, they have to know they’re not doing right by me,” said Daal, who is 2-0 with an 0.73 earned-run average in two starts in place of Brown.

“They’re taking money out of my pocket. It’s tough. It’s not fair. Everyone knows I can start. I respect all the starters here, but they have to know I need my chance, either here or wherever.”

Wherever looked mighty appealing to Daal a month ago, when he demanded a trade after being told he would open the season in the bullpen.

But with starters Brown and Andy Ashby coming off elbow surgery and left-hander Kazuhisa Ishii struggling with his control at the time, General Manager Dan Evans made it clear to Daal he wasn’t going anywhere.

Daal (3-0) gave up two runs in four relief appearances, and his success as a starter enables the Dodgers to be very cautious with Brown’s rehabilitation from an inflamed elbow.

“Kevin Brown’s health will dictate when he comes back, and I’ll leave it at that,” Manager Jim Tracy said. “We have a very special commodity in Omar Daal, and we know that. What a brilliant move it was holding onto this man. Whether he’s in the bullpen or rotation, you know what you’re going to get.”

Wednesday night, Daal gave the Dodgers a near carbon copy of his 61/3-inning effort against San Diego last Thursday, when he gave up two unearned runs and three hits and struck out eight in a 5-2 win. He changed speeds against the Pirates, mixed his pitches well and had excellent control, striking out six and walking one.

“The bottom line is he’s a starter, and he knows it,” left fielder Brian Jordan said. “It’s an unfortunate situation for him being in the bullpen, but I appreciate the way he’s handled himself. He could have been a bad apple, but when he was asked to do a job, he’s done it.”

The Dodgers, who have won seven of their last nine and are 5-0 against left-handed starters this season, staked Daal to a 2-0 lead on Marquis Grissom’s first-inning homer and Eric Karros’ second-inning RBI double.

Doubles by Brian Giles and Craig Wilson pulled the Pirates to within 2-1 in the fourth, and Daal pitched out of a jam in the fifth, striking out pitcher Dave Williams and retiring Adrian Brown on a slow roller to short after Jack Wilson’s one-out triple.

Karros’ double sparked a three-run rally in the seventh, which included RBI singles by Mark Grudzielanek and pinch-hitter Hiram Bocachica, and Grissom’s sacrifice fly, and gave the Dodgers a 5-1 lead. Karros, a career .259 hitter in April, is batting .319 in the first month of the season.

The Pirates loaded the bases with two out in the eighth when Jesse Orosco gave up a single to Giles and walked Craig Wilson and Jason Kendall. But Tracy summoned right-hander Giovanni Carrara, who blew a 94-mph fastball by pinch-hitter Rob Mackowiak for strike three to end the inning.

“Omar gave us six great innings, and the bullpen did a very good job,” Tracy said. “I’m not saying this egotistically, but with the pitching staff we have, five runs is a lot for the Dodgers.”

Daal is an important part of that staff, whether he’s in the rotation or bullpen, but he prefers to be a starter.

“At least I’ve shown them what I can do,” Daal said. “I’ve proved it to everybody and myself, and now it’s out of my hands. It’s frustrating when you know you can be there every five days, but they already have their five starters, and I can’t do anything about it.”