No Glove Lost at Second

Twenty-seven games into the season, the second baseman who was supposed to be a defensive liability has not booted a ground ball. He hasn’t thrown a ball away turning a double play. He hasn’t failed to come up with a throw.

Jeff Kent has been rock-solid, and he handled his first 139 chances flawlessly. The inevitable occurred Wednesday against the Washington Nationals when he was charged with his first error, but it wasn’t entirely his doing.

In the seventh inning, Kent took a cutoff throw in short center field, wheeled and threw to home plate, trying to cut down runner Jose Vidro. The ball skipped past catcher Jason Phillips, which shouldn’t have been a problem because pitcher Odalis Perez had backed up the play.

However, Perez was too close to Phillips and couldn’t react quickly enough to catch the ball, which rolled to the backstop, allowing Vinny Castilla to advance from second to third.

“I should have caught that ball,” Phillips said. “It bounced up and rolled past me and Odalis, and the next thing you know, he’s at third base.”

Kent, 37, is the only Dodger to have played every inning this season. He has no problem with the workload, which is good because the Dodgers do not have a backup second baseman until Antonio Perez completes his minor league rehabilitation assignment May 18.

“I haven’t thought about it, to be honest,” Kent said. “It does get to be a grind, but there will be opportunities for me to take a day off down the road.

“I know that when I come to work, I’m going to play.”

*

It is unclear whether shortstop Cesar Izturis will be ready to play tonight. He came out of the game Wednesday two innings after fouling a pitch off his right ankle. The impact caused him to roll the ankle, and the injury has been diagnosed as a mild sprain.

Until Perez returns, the Dodgers do not have a qualified backup shortstop. Jose Valentin, the only other player with significant experience at the position, is out for more than two months because of a knee injury.

Third baseman Norihiro Naka- mura filled in for Izturis on Wednesday, but the infielder has little experience as a shortstop. Utility player Mike Edwards, who replaced Valentin on the roster, is considered a better outfielder than infielder.

If Izturis will be out for more than a day or two, the Dodgers could promote Jose Flores, who is batting .346 at Las Vegas, or purchase the contract of Mexican League shortstop Oscar Robles.

*

Dan Evans’ last trade as Dodger general manager looks better every time Yhency Brazoban or Jeff Weaver takes the mound for the Dodgers and Kevin Brown does the same for the New York Yankees.

Evans unloaded Brown and the last two years of his seven-year, $105-million contract for Brazoban, Weaver and a minor leaguer on Dec. 13, 2003, two months before he was fired.

With Eric Gagne on the disabled list, Brazoban has performed well as closer, notching nine saves. Weaver has been a fixture in the starting rotation, going 16-15 as a Dodger, including a 3-2 record this season.

Meanwhile, Brown has been a disaster for the Yankees. The 40-year-old right-hander is 0-4 with an 8.25 earned-run average this season, giving up 41 hits in 24 innings.

*

Dodger vice chairman Jamie McCourt is initiating a program aimed at increasing the number of women who attend games, and their enjoyment of baseball.

Through WIN -- Women’s Initiative & Network -- McCourt said the Dodgers would provide baseball clinics, seminars and forums for women that will include players, coaches and other staff members. She said the program would also try to provide women with professional business and social networking opportunities.

Events planned this season are a girls’ softball clinic June 11; a women’s baseball clinic July 30; WIN Fan Appreciation Day on Aug. 13; and a “women in baseball” networking breakfast Sept. 9.

McCourt estimated that 40% of the fans who come to Dodger Stadium are women.

ON DECK

Opponent -- Cincinnati Reds, three games.

Site -- Great American Ball Park.

TV -- FSN West 2 tonight and Saturday, ESPN on Sunday.

Radio -- 980, 1330.

Records -- Dodgers 17-10, Reds 10-17.

2004 record vs. Reds -- 2-4.

Tonight, 4 PDT -- Brad Penny (1-0, 3.27) vs. Paul Wilson (1-2, 5.25).

Saturday, 10 -- Derek Lowe (2-2, 1.96) vs. Ramon Ortiz (0-1, 9.00).

Sunday, 5 -- Jeff Weaver (3-2, 5.70) vs. Eric Milton (2-2, 5.79).

*

Times staff writer Mike Terry contributed to this report.

*

DODGERS TONIGHT

DODGERS’

BRAD PENNY

vs.

REDS’

PAUL WILSON

*--* THE MATCHUPS 2005 2004 VS OPP TEAMS/PITCHERS W-L ERA TEAM W-L IP ERA DODGERS/Penny (R) 1-0 3.27 2-0 1-0 14.0 3.86 Cincinnati/Wilson (R) 1-2 5.25 2-4 1-0 7.0 1.29

*--*

Great American Ball Park, 4 PDT

TV -- FSNW2. Radio -- 980, 1330.

Update -- The Dodgers led the major leagues in runs scored early in the season, but after averaging only 3.2 runs a game during a 4-5 homestand that ended with a loss to the Washington Nationals on Wednesday, their season average has dropped to 5.0.

*

-- Steve Henson