Inexperienced Beirne Gets Big Assignment

By Mike DiGiovanna

Sept. 12, 2002 12 AM PT

SAN FRANCISCO —

In the thick of a heated wild-card race, when each game seems more important than the previous one, the Dodgers will turn to a right-hander who has made one major league start in his career--Kevin Beirne will pitch against the Colorado Rockies on Friday night.

Asked if he ever expected Beirne to start a game of such magnitude this late in the season, Manager Jim Tracy said, “No ... but it is what it is.”

In other words, with Kazuhisa Ishii hospitalized because of a fractured skull and Andy Ashby’s start pushed back to Sunday because of an infection on the middle finger of his pitching hand, Tracy didn’t have much of a choice.

But that does not mean the Dodgers don’t expect good things from Beirne. The 28-year-old is 1-0 with a 2.57 earned-run average in nine relief appearances after going 10-3 with a 4.15 ERA in 22 starts for triple-A Las Vegas, and Tracy believes Beirne, a former Texas A&M; wide receiver, has the mental makeup to handle the assignment.

“I’ve liked the way he’s carried himself from the first day he walked in here,” Tracy said. “He’s a competitive kid who has backed down from nothing. I have the utmost confidence in him.”

Beirne’s only other start was for the Chicago White Sox on Sept. 26, 2000, when he gave up three runs and three hits in five innings in a no-decision against the Boston Red Sox. He has never pitched in Coors Field, but he has pitched in Colorado Springs, “which is even higher in altitude,” Beirne said.

“It’s different, and you have to make adjustments, like you do in a lot of places,” Beirne said. “I’ve got to keep the ball down, use both sides of the plate and change speeds. I just want to keep it close and give the team a chance to win.”

Dodger right-hander Kevin Brown, who gave up five runs and six hits in five innings of Tuesday night’s 5-2 loss, returned to Los Angeles on Wednesday to be examined by Dr. Robert Watkins. But the checkup, scheduled before Brown’s start, was considered routine, and Tracy said Brown will remain in the rotation and start Tuesday night against the Giants at home.

Reviews for Brown’s first start since June 11 surgery for a herniated disk in his lower back were mixed. Said Giant Manager Dusty Baker: “He wasn’t quite Kevin Brown. He had the movement, but not the velocity. But he’s still better than most.”

Tracy was encouraged by Brown’s performance, saying “it was better than the numbers indicate.” A blown call by home plate umpire Ed Montague in the second inning cost the Dodgers two runs and changed the complexion of the game. After giving up two runs in the first, Brown got out of a second-and-third, no-out jam.

“Some things happened early that started the snowball rolling down the wrong side of the hill,” Tracy said. “But he knuckled down and got out of the first, and the play at the plate cost him a couple of runs in the second.”

Ashby played long toss and threw for about five minutes in the bullpen Wednesday, and though his finger felt tender at first, he said the workout went well. “The main thing is there wasn’t any swelling when I was throwing,” Ashby said. “There’s no reason I shouldn’t be able to pitch Sunday unless it swells up or I stick [the finger] in something I shouldn’t.” Ashby will throw again for 10-12 minutes in the bullpen today.... Third baseman Adrian Beltre has one hit in his last 31 at-bats but hasn’t taken his slump into the field--he made several fine defensive plays in Wednesday’s win and has made only two errors since the All-Star break.

ON DECK

Opponent--Colorado Rockies, four games.

Site--Coors Field, Denver.

Tonight--6 PDT.

TV--Fox Sports Net 2 tonight, Channel 13 Friday night and Sunday.

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

Records--Dodgers 83-62, Rockies 66-80.

Record vs. Rockies--10-3.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

OMAR DAAL

(11-7, 3.59 ERA)