Daal Tames Phillies

Omar Daal has already been down this road twice, waiting for Kevin Brown to return from the disabled list and bump him to the bullpen.

The Dodgers expect Brown to rejoin them again soon, but Daal might not be the odd man out after another impressive performance Sunday in a 4-3 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies before 28,186 at Veterans Stadium.

Daal (9-6) pitched 6 1/3 solid innings in his third consecutive quality start. He also hit his second career home run, giving Manager Jim Tracy more to consider about the rotation.

“Omar Daal, early in the season, did some tremendous things for us out of the bullpen, and in the absence of Kevin Brown, as a starting pitcher, he’s done some very special things for us,” Tracy said. “He had some brilliant outings early on [in place of Brown], and his performance today.... he returned to that pinnacle. For six innings, he was brilliant.”

Fans booed Daal each time his name was announced, presumably because he was critical of Phillie Manager Larry Bowa last season. But Daal maintained a business-like approach in his first start against the Phillies since being traded back to the Dodgers in November, striking out the side in the first and escaping a bases-loaded jam in the sixth.

The left-hander helped himself with a solo homer in the third against Philadelphia rookie right-hander Brett Myers (1-2), who pitched seven innings. Adrian Beltre hit a two-run homer--No. 14--after Eric Karros singled in the seventh, increasing the Dodger lead to 3-0 and continuing his torrid trip.

“Since the All-Star break, things are going good for me,” said Beltre, 14 for 39 with three homers and 13 runs batted in during his last nine games. “I’m getting good pitches to hit, I’m trying to be on those pitches, and that stuff is working.”

Daal appeared exhausted during the seventh with the temperature at 91 degrees, and the Phillies cut the lead to 3-2 against him and reliever Paul Shuey.

Alex Cora, earning more playing time because of his production, drove in the Dodgers’ final run with a ninth-inning single, helping closer Eric Gagne. Marlon Anderson tripled to start the ninth and scored on Doug Glanville’s one-out single.

Placido Polanco then grounded into a fielder’s choice, and Bobby Abreu popped up to give Gagne his 36th save in 38 chances. The Dodgers (62-49) defeated the Phillies (52-58) for the second time after dropping the series opener, improving to 6-6 on a season-high 13-game trip that ends today.

They remained six games behind first-place Arizona in the National League West, and one game ahead of San Francisco in the N.L. wild-card race with their staff ace close to being activated. The Dodgers are eager to make room for Brown, but Daal has made a strong case to remain in the rotation.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen, so I don’t want to think about that, I just want to do my job,” Daal said. “I know I’ve had some bad games before, but my last three [games] have been really good and aggressive. I’m just happy, because I know I’m back now.”

Daal gave up six hits and was charged with two runs. He had five strikeouts and two walks while throwing 54 strikes in 79 pitches.

With Daal still in the game, the Phillies scored their first run in the seventh on Anderson’s sacrifice bunt after Travis Lee and Jimmy Rollins singled and doubled, respectively, to start the inning. Rollins scored on a wild pitch by Shuey.

Left-handed specialist Jesse Orosco retired Abreu to start the eighth, and workhorse setup man Paul Quantrill, pitching for the fifth straight day, got the final two out, stranding two runners. Cora singled off first baseman Lee’s glove in the ninth to drive in Cesar Izturis from third, providing the difference and helping Daal make his case with another victory.

“I know what I can do,” Daal said. “Let’s wait and see what they’re going to do.”

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NL Wild Card

*--* W L GB Dodgers 62 49 -- San Francisco 61 50 1 Cincinnati 58 52 3 1/2

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