Rockies Run Into Buzz Saw Against Dreifort, Dodgers

Scouts discussing the Dodger pitching staff before Thursday’s game at Dodger Stadium paused and shook their heads in approval when Darren Dreifort’s name was mentioned.

It seems there’s a buzz in baseball about the improving right-hander, who added to his growing reputation with a career-high 12 strikeouts -- including four in one inning -- in a 4-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

“I know that for guys on the other teams, he’s probably the last of our five starters that they want to face, and I know that because I hear people talking,” right fielder Shawn Green said. “Right now, everybody’s saying Dreif is one of the nastiest guys around.”

Dreifort (4-3) delivered another sensational start before 27,461, overcoming three errors, including two by normally sure-handed second baseman Alex Cora, in the team’s season-high seventh consecutive victory.

The major leagues’ top bullpen was perfect behind Dreifort, and the Dodgers made good use of only seven hits.

Left fielder Brian Jordan was the catalyst with three singles and a walk, and Dreifort had a run-scoring double in a three-run second against Colorado starter Aaron Cook (1-4).

“These guys are so good behind us [on defense], so when something like that does happen, you just want to try even harder to pick them up and minimize the damage,” said Dreifort, who matched his previous personal best of 11 strikeouts April 28 in a 3-0 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

He gave up only two hits and three runs (one earned) in six innings -- and accomplished a rare feat.

Dreifort became only the 24th pitcher in the National League and 44th overall to strike out four batters in an inning, doing it in the second.

Closer Eric Gagne pitched a two-strikeout ninth to earn a save in the sixth consecutive game, and the Dodgers swept a three-game series for the second time on a 7-2 homestand.

Gagne saved every game as the Dodgers swept the Rockies and Florida Marlins, and had 10 consecutive strikeouts during the run. He remained perfect in 18 opportunities and 26 spanning two seasons.

The Dodgers (27-20) are seven games above .500 for the first time after their 11th one-run victory. The second-place Dodgers moved to within 2 1/2 games of the idle San Francisco Giants -- the closest they’ve been since April 4.

After trailing the Giants by 8 1/2 games April 25, the Dodgers have blasted back into the division race behind the league’s top rotation, which is 7-0 with a 1.47 earned-run average during the streak.

Dreifort has done his part.

“You now start talking about this guy along the same lines as you do a Kevin Brown, as far as the type of stuff that’s going up there for the opposing hitters to have to deal with,” Manager Jim Tracy said. “It’s awfully devastating right now.”

Coming off a strong eight-inning performance in a 2-1 win over Florida last Friday, Dreifort got off to another fast start against the Rockies, despite falling behind in the first inning.

He struck out the side in the first, but third baseman Adrian Beltre’s seventh error and left fielder Mike Kinkade’s lackadaisical relay throw contributed to the Rockies’ taking a 2-0 lead.

And Dreifort had a bigger workload in the second. He struck out Bobby Estalella, Brent Butler and Cook, but was denied a 1-2-3 inning on a wild pitch that eluded backup catcher David Ross. The ball went to the backstop, Cook went to first and Dreifort went back to work.

Jay Payton reached on Cora’s first error, putting runners at the corners for Colorado (21-26). Greg Norton then struck out looking, sending Dreifort into the record book.

Dreifort, who walked four, said he felt good about how he’s pitching. “But there are still are a lot of inconsistencies with the way I’ve been pitching,” he said.

“I certainly could have done without the leadoff walks today, but you’re always making adjustments. I learn something new every time out there.”

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Four!

*--* The Dodgers’ Darren Dreifort became the 43rd major league pitcher to strike out four batters in one inning, accomplishing the feat in the second inning of Thursday’s 4-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies. * indicates that the four strikeouts were consecutive. ** World Series Pitcher Team Date *Ed Crane New York (N) Oct. 4, 1888 *Hooks Wiltse New York (N) May 15, 1906 **Orval Overall Chicago (N) Oct., 14 1908 Walter Johnson Washington April 15, 1911 Guy Morton Cleveland June 11, 1916 Ryne Duren Angels May 18, 1961 *Jim Davis Chicago (N) May 27, 1956 Joe Nuxhall Cincinnati Aug. 11, 1959 *Pete Richert Dodgers April 12, 1962 Lee Stange Cleveland Sept. 2, 1964 *Don Drysdale Dodgers April 17, 1965 Bob Gibson St. Louis June 7, 1966 *Mike Cuellar Baltimore May 29, 1970 *Bill Bonham Chicago (N) July 31, 1974 Phil Niekro Atlanta July 29, 1977 *Mike Paxton Cleveland July 21. 1978 Mario Soto Cincinnati May 17, 1984 Mike Scott Houston Sept. 3, 1986 *Bobby Witt Texas Aug. 2, 1987 Charlie Hough Texas July 4, 1988 Paul Assenmacher Atlanta Aug. 22, 1989 Tim Birtsas Cincinnati June 4, 1990 Matt Young Seattle Sept, 9, 1990 Paul Shuey Cleveland May 14, 1994 Mark Wohlers Atlanta June 7, 1995 Bruce Ruffin Colorado July 25, 1996 *Kevin Appier Kansas City Sept. 3, 1996 Derek Wallace New York (N) Sept. 13, 1996 *Wilson Alvarez Chicago (A) July 21, 1997 Blake Stein Oakland July 27, 1998 *Kirt Ojala Florida Sept. 16, 1998 Archie Corbin Florida April 28, 1999 *Chuck Finley Angels May 15, 1999 Jerry Spradlin San Francisco July 22, 1999 Tim Wakefield Boston Aug. 10, 1999 Chuck Finley Angels Aug. 15, 1999 *Steve Kline Montreal Aug. 17, 1999 Chuck Finley Cleveland April 16, 2000 Erik Hiljus Oakland June 30, 2001 Frankie Rodriguez Cincinnati July 22, 2001 A.J. Burnett Florida July 5, 2002 Kerry Wood Chicago (N) Sept. 2, 2002 Darren Dreifort Dodgers May 22, 2003 Source: baseball-almanac.com

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