Colborn: No Reason to Fret Over Weaver

Starter Jeff Weaver has given up 18 hits and 11 earned runs in his last 8 2/3 innings, contributing to his 6.89 earned-run average.

The right-hander was chased in the sixth inning of Sunday’s 7-6 victory over San Francisco, facing five batters and failing to record an out in the inning. Barry Bonds tagged Weaver for an RBI double and homers No. 664 and 665.

The Dodgers said Tuesday they were not concerned about Weaver, however, because, well, Bonds is Bonds.

“Take out the big kid, the one in Little League who you couldn’t get out, take him out of the equation and see what his numbers look like,” pitching coach Jim Colborn said. “Barry is just on one of those streaks now where he’s hitting everything in his hitting zone, and there’s not much you can do about it.”

San Diego also pounded Weaver (1-1) for eight hits and six earned runs in 3 2/3 innings in last Tuesday’s 8-3 win over the Dodgers. Bonds doesn’t play for the Padres, and Weaver struggled in spring training.

“To me, the tumblers just haven’t all kicked in yet, because it isn’t the same thing each time,” Colborn said. “It’s something and then it’s another thing. Once he gets locked in, I think you’re really going to see something nice.

“All his outings are just an ounce or two out of balance, and if it had gone the other way, he would have been real proud of what he’s done. The pitching has been fine, so I’m not concerned about that.

“His fastball, his breaking balls ... the quality of his pitches is good. It either has to do with sequences or approach or something like that, all of which are in our power to make better.”

*

Manager Jim Tracy shuffled the rotation to have Odalis Perez, coming off an impressive victory over San Francisco, start Friday in the opener of a three-game series against the Giants at Dodger Stadium.

Perez had been scheduled to start Thursday in the final game of the series against Colorado, but the Dodgers altered their plans after Perez (1-1) delivered an eight-inning, two-hit, 10-strikeout performance in Friday’s 3-2 victory at SBC Park.

Fifth starter Jose Lima (2-0) is scheduled to take his next turn Thursday, according to Tracy, and will not start again until May 1 against Montreal at Dodger Stadium. Lima will be available to work out of the bullpen between starts.

*

Catcher Todd Hundley might require his third back operation in less than a year, probably ending hope of the $6.5-million reserve playing this season.

Hundley, scheduled to be evaluated today by specialist Robert Watkins, is experiencing hip pain, Tracy said, which the Dodgers said was caused by his ongoing back problems.

He sat out spring training after having surgery on Nov. 25 to repair a herniated disk after initially undergoing surgery for the problem June 5. Hundley’s contract ends after this season.