He’s a Left-Handed Complement

When Scott Stewart joined the Dodgers in late August, it wasn’t clear whether he would have much of a role besides feeding the clubhouse rat whose cage rests near his locker.

The left-handed reliever had a 7.24 earned-run average in 23 appearances with the Cleveland Indians, who designated him for assignment, and wasn’t exactly a strong candidate to contribute to the major leagues’ best bullpen upon being acquired by the Dodgers.

But Stewart has become a fixture among the relievers out of necessity during a month in which Dodger starters had compiled a 6.44 ERA before playing the Colorado Rockies on Monday night at Dodger Stadium.

“He keeps pitching me,” Stewart said of Dodger Manager Jim Tracy. “That right there tells you something.”

Tracy went to Stewart again Monday night, summoning him in the fourth inning to replace struggling starter Edwin Jackson. He gave up an RBI single to Aaron Miles that broke a 5-5 tie, a single to Royce Clayton and a run-scoring double to Todd Helton before escaping a bases-loaded, one-out jam.

Stewart’s primary role has been keeping the Dodgers in games they are trailing: Six of his 10 appearances have come with the Dodgers behind. The 29-year-old has held opponents in check while the Dodgers have rallied for three victories.

“I come to the park every day with a smile on my face and in a great mood,” said Stewart, 1-0 with a 5.23 ERA with the Dodgers. “I want to contribute at least one thing every day, whether it’s a good attitude or one out.”

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The Dodgers’ spring training complex in Vero Beach, Fla., was somewhat spared from the fury of Hurricane Jeanne simply because one of its predecessors, Hurricane Frances, had already inflicted widespread damage.

“Once the shingles are torn off, you can’t tear them back off again,” said Craig Callan, vice president of Dodgertown and minor league facilities.

The latest storm leveled trees, snapped three light posts and inundated the Holman Stadium field with 1 1/2 feet of water. A warehouse that had half its roof sheared off by Frances three weeks ago had the other half sheared off by Jeanne, Callan said.

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While the Dodgers haven’t received the expected boost from their blockbuster six-player trade with Florida, the Marlins also haven’t obtained the production they would have liked from their new players, especially over the last month.

Paul Lo Duca, hitting .301 with 10 homers and 49 runs batted in on July 30 when he was traded to the Marlins, has entered a familiar late-season slide, hitting .200 in September. The catcher has hit .275 overall with three homers and 31 RBIs in 47 games with his new team.

Guillermo Mota, 8-4 with a 2.14 earned-run average with the Dodgers, is 1-3 with a 3.16 ERA with Florida. The setup man has converted three of six save opportunities with his new team.

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Tracy said the hairline fracture in Jose Lima’s pitching thumb would not prevent the right-hander from starting Thursday against Colorado.

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Third and Long

Adrian Beltre tied Mike Schmidt’s major league record for home runs in a season by a third baseman:

*--* Player Year HR Player Year HR Adrian Beltre 2004 48 Eddie Mathews 1959 46 Mike Schmidt 1980 48 Vinny Castilla 1998 46 Eddie Mathews 1953 47 Troy Glaus 2000 46

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