Infield Feels Effect of Izturis’ Absence

Shortstop Cesar Izturis missed his second game in a row because of a sore back and the Dodger infield is feeling the pain.

Rookie Oscar Robles has moved from third to shortstop and also has taken over Izturis’ spot at the top of the batting order. But Manager Jim Tracy has tried three different players at third base in three days, and none are comfortable at the position.

Olmedo Saenz played third on Wednesday. The last time he was there, he made two errors in an Aug. 6 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

On Tuesday, it was Jose Valentin, who made an error in his first game at third since May.

On Monday, it was Antonio Perez playing third because the left-handed hitting Robles did not play against Florida left-hander Dontrelle Willis. Perez lost a foul pop fly in the sun and botched a double-play ground ball.

And it’s not as if they are emergency fill-ins. Valentin, Perez and Saenz are the players General Manager Paul DePodesta planned to use at third all season. It turned out that none of them possess the requisite blend of defensive prowess and offensive productivity, so Robles won the job shortly after his contract was purchased from the Mexican League in late May.

Meanwhile, Izturis is limping through the clubhouse and the pain is shooting from his back through his right leg. “I feel like an old man,” he said. “I can’t bend over. I can’t do anything.”

He said he suffered the injury during a game at Washington three weeks ago and re-injured it Monday.

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When Duaner Sanchez recorded the final out in the Dodgers’ 8-3 victory Tuesday night, starting pitcher Jeff Weaver ducked into the clubhouse without going to the field for the traditional postgame handshakes.

Weaver had turned in one of his strongest performances of the season and wanted to finish the game. However, he walked the leadoff batter in the ninth and when Garrett Atkins singled, Sanchez was summoned.

“I was disappointed in myself,” Weaver said. “When the guys came in [the clubhouse], I gave them handshakes.”

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J.D. Drew took about 20 swings off a tee, although he did not sound optimistic about returning to the lineup any time soon. The right fielder has been sidelined since July 3 with a broken right wrist. “It’s really sore and weak,” he said. “I don’t want to come back too soon and roll over a bunch of ground balls.”