McCourt Speaks to Perez

Odalis Perez was escorted by a clubhouse attendant to owner Frank McCourt’s office before the game Thursday to discuss the pitcher’s outburst Sunday at Houston.

Perez was upset after the 6-5 loss because he was sent to pitch the sixth inning, and also because he thought he had been singled out during a players meeting. He gave up four consecutive hits in the sixth and said afterward that he was tired.

Two years ago, he angered teammates by complaining about a lack of run support. This time, most of the other Dodgers merely shrugged and chalked the outburst up to frustration over losing. Perez was not punished.

“Everybody from the front office to staff to players all want to win so bad,” General Manager Paul DePodesta said Wednesday. “We want to make it happen and are frustrated it’s not happening. That frustration will bubble over at times. We need to stabilize things.”

Perez said he didn’t have anything more to say, and Manager Jim Tracy said only that “the situation was being taken care of internally.”

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Outfielder Milton Bradley will begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment today.

Third baseman Jose Valentin said he would begin a rehabilitation assignment Saturday and expected to be activated from the disabled list when the Dodgers begin a homestand July 25.

Tracy was less definitive, saying, “It is safe to say he is close to a rehab.”

Valentin, a switch-hitter, is batting only left-handed to avoid putting undue stress on his right knee.

Bradley took batting practice with the team for the first time since tearing a ligament in the ring finger of his right hand May 29.

Valentin and Bradley hit in the batting cage together last week. “I don’t see any lingering effects with Milton,” Valentin said. “He’s hitting the ball good.”

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Left-hander Kelly Wunsch will have surgery on his right ankle Wednesday. He said that an examination showed the tendon did not tear as was feared and that he can begin baseball activity in five months.... Eric Gagne already has full range of motion in his elbow three weeks after surgery.... Luke Hochevar, the first Dodger pick in the June draft, won the Roger Clemens Award as the top pitcher in college baseball. Hochevar was 15-3 for Tennessee.... Tracy, DePodesta and McCourt will be guests on KFWB’s “Dodger Talk” today at noon.