No Holding Back Newcomer

Tyler Houston was traded from Atlanta to the Chicago Cubs on June 27, 1996, and from the Cubs to Cleveland on Aug. 31, 1999, so he knows all too well how traumatic it can be having to change teams during the season. But those experiences didn’t make his transition from Milwaukee to the Dodgers any easier.

“Nothing helps--it’s like being the new kid in the middle of the school year,” said Houston, who started at first base for the Dodgers on Friday night after being acquired from the Brewers for two minor league pitchers Tuesday.

“Not knowing too many people isn’t bad. You kind of know guys from playing against them. The most difficult part is getting myself to relax so I can perform and not worry about the pressure. You come in to a new team, you want to be great the first day. That’s not how it works. You’re going to have bad days.”

Houston was so eager to start his new job he arrived at Pac Bell Park at 12:45 p.m. Friday, almost seven hours before the game, to try on his new uniform, shoes and to meet his new teammates. Leaving Milwaukee (36-67) will do that to a guy.

“It seems like a pretty light-hearted clubhouse, a fun atmosphere,” said Houston, who will also play third base. “Everyone understands they’ve been struggling. I’ve been through a bad stretch all year with my team. It always turns around. Well, probably not in Milwaukee. I think it’s going to get worse there.”

The Dodgers have struggled to score runs since the All-Star break, and they believe Houston’s left-handed bat--he hit .302 with seven home runs and 33 runs batted in--will add power and balance to a predominantly right-handed lineup. He made an immediate impact Friday night with a two-run triple in the first inning.

“By no means am I a savior,” Houston said. “I’m here to help. I understand they could use another left-handed bat. That’s what I bring to the table.”

*

Pitcher Kevin Brown’s rehabilitation from June 11 surgery for a herniated disk is progressing rapidly, but pitcher Darren Dreifort’s rehabilitation from major elbow surgery has hit a snag.

Brown threw 70 pitches in the Dodger Stadium bullpen Friday, and the reports, according to Manager Jim Tracy, were that Brown was “sharp, crisp ... his best bullpen to date.”

Brown will throw again Monday.

Dreifort, however, had to cut Friday’s light bullpen session off at 20 pitches because of a sore right knee.

“There’s still some pain, so why push it?” Dreifort said. “That would be dumb.”

*

Dodger first baseman Eric Karros remained in Los Angeles on Friday to be with his wife, Trish, who was due to deliver the couple’s third child.

It was unclear Friday night whether Karros would travel to San Francisco in time for today’s game.

TODAY

DODGERS’

OMAR DAAL

(7-5, 4.15 ERA)

vs.

GIANTS’

LIVAN HERNANDEZ

(7-10, 4.48 ERA)

Pac Bell Park, San Francisco, 1

TV--Channel 11. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

Update--The Dodgers’ three-run first inning Friday night marked the first time in 13 games they scored in the first inning. Daal pitched well enough to win his last two starts, giving up six earned runs and 11 hits in 13 innings to the Cardinals and Giants, but wound up with a loss and two no-decisions. Hernandez has limited opponents to three earned runs or less in 14 of 21 starts.