Beltre’s Teammates Impressed by Start

Third baseman Adrian Beltre is off to the best start of his career, doing everything the Dodgers expected and more.

“Just look at how good Belly has been,” closer Eric Gagne said. “He used to swing at bad pitches, now he’s taking pitches and has a great approach.”

After going two for five with a homer during Wednesday’s 9-4 win over Colorado, Beltre is second among Dodger regulars with a .375 batting average, has a team-high six home runs and is tied for the lead with 15 runs batted in during the Dodgers’ first 14 games.

Usually a slow starter, Beltre drove in his 15th run in the team’s 51st game last season. He hit his sixth homer in the 77th game.

Manager Jim Tracy has praised Beltre for showing patience at the plate and hitting the ball to right field, displaying an unselfish and intelligent approach. Beltre’s teammates are happy too.

“Everybody knows he’s had better second halves in the past, but if he can continue on the good start he’s on, he could have an incredible season,” Shawn Green said. “He just hasn’t done anything wrong.

“He’s hitting home runs and he’s driving in runs. He looks like he did in the second half of last year. What more could you want?”

Beltre is taking things slowly, saying consistency is the key. He is comfortable at the plate, but said, “I can’t say it’s the best I’ve ever felt, so it’s too early to get caught up in that stuff.

“It’s good to get off to a good start, because everybody knows I always start slow, but I’m just trying to keep the same pace and the same swing for the whole year. That’s going to be the best thing to do to have a complete season.”

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The Dodgers play host to the San Francisco Giants in a three-game series beginning Friday. Few tickets are available for the Friday and Saturday games, and Sunday’s game is sold out, a Dodger spokesman said.

Despite Barry Bonds’ four homers and eight RBIs, the Dodgers swept the Giants last weekend at SBC Park.

“He belongs in another league,” Tracy said of Bonds. “The problem is, he’d be the only guy in the league.”

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Catcher Todd Hundley remains sidelined because of back problems and is prohibited from participating in baseball activities after being re-examined by specialist Robert Watkins, team physical therapist Pat Screnar said.

Hundley, who sat out spring training, is expected to continue his rehabilitation program in Phoenix. There is no timetable for his return.

The $6.5-million reserve had surgery Nov. 25 to repair a herniated disk after initially undergoing surgery for the problem June 5.