Green Is Getting Few Good Pitches, or Hits

Shawn Green hit 24 home runs in 45 games from May 21 to July 11, an 86-homer pace that would have shattered Barry Bonds’ record-setting, 73-homer season of 2001. Yet during that same period, the Dodger right fielder drew only 25 walks, a 90-walk pace that wouldn’t have approached Bonds’ 177 walks last season.

For some reason, opponents kept pitching to Green during his tear, but it appears they’re wising up, as evidenced by Green’s three walks against the Giants on Friday night and the scarcity of good pitches he has gotten to hit since the All-Star break.

“You can see teams pitching around Green, just like they do with Bonds, but when you start doing phenomenal stuff, that happens,” said Dodger batting instructor Jack Clark. “You have to be patient. If they give you enough to only get a base hit, you take it.”

Green has taken nothing since Monday night--he went 0 for 4 in Saturday’s 4-2 win over the Giants and is hitless in his last 21 at-bats. It hasn’t helped that those batting behind him are a combined three for 31 since the All-Star break.

This was one of the Dodgers’ biggest concerns when they traded Gary Sheffield to Atlanta in January--that Green wouldn’t have enough lineup protection. Eric Karros and Brian Jordan provided adequate protection in the first half, but they need to produce for Green to get good pitches the rest of the season.

“There may be situations where other teams say Shawn Green is not going to beat us--that’s what happens this time of year,” Manager Jim Tracy said. “So the other guys have to step up.”

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Add Giant Manager Dusty Baker to the list of critics of the rubbery surface ringing Dodger Stadium’s playing field. Bonds sat out Saturday’s game because of a strained right hamstring, suffered while chasing Karros’ 11th-inning triple on the warning track Friday night, and the slugger is doubtful for tonight’s series finale.

Jordan, the Dodger left fielder, injured his knee and lower back while planting his foot to make a throw on the warning track May 13 and sat out the next six games.

“That surface is really dangerous,” Baker said. “You wonder why they have it. Is it maintenance? Is it cosmetics? It doesn’t rain here a lot. The wind doesn’t blow enough.”

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Dodger pitcher Kazuhisa Ishii tweaked his left groin during his six-inning performance against the Giants on Friday night, but the left-hander said the injury was not serious and will not prevent him from making his next start.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

HIDEO NOMO

(9-6, 3.10 ERA)

vs.

GIANTS’

RUSS ORTIZ

(6-6, 3.66 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 5

Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

Update--Nomo’s seven-game winning streak ended Tuesday night when he gave up five runs--two earned--in 6 2/3 innings of a 9-2 loss to St. Louis. The right-hander has had success against Giant second baseman Jeff Kent, limiting him to three hits in 29 career at-bats (.103). Jordan was given Saturday off to rest his aching left knee, but he is expected to return tonight.

Tickets--(323) 224-1448.