DODGERS NOTEBOOK: MONDESI TAKES SOME OF THE BLAME : STRUGGLING OUTFIELDER FEELS WEIGHT OF TEAM'S SLUMP, BUT THREE-HIT GAME ENCOURAGING.Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer Raul Mondesi knows something about slumps. He has one home run in his last 114 at-bats. But he also knows that the Dodgers' listless (programming) listless - In functional programming, a property of a function which allows it to be combined with other functions in a way that eliminates intermediate data structures, especially lists. stretch could change if he has more games like Saturday. Mondesi is still holding at 19 home runs, but he went 3 for 3 in a 9-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California that currently play in the National League West Division. New York Giants history Early days and the John McGraw era , including a sharp double in the second inning that led to the Dodgers' only run. It was the Dodgers' (34-44) sixth consecutive loss, one short of their longest slump since Aug. 7-13, 1993. They are 10 games under .500 for the first time since 1992, when they finished last. ``A lot of this is on me,'' said Mondesi, who is still on pace to hit 40 homers this year. ``When I was hitting, we were okay. Since I stopped, we've haven't.'' The Dodgers are 10-21 since May 28 when he hit a home run against the Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From to the present, the Braves have played in Turner Field. . In an effort to get Mondesi rolling, manager Davey Johnson cleanup position, cleanup . Mondesi has batted first, third and sixth. Saturday, he was in the fifth spot. Mondesi has told teammates he thinks Johnson is picking on him in light of the team's failures. Saturday, he said it is no big deal. ``I'm not worrying about that; it will take care of itself,'' Mondesi said. ``If I keep working hard, days like this will mean wins later on.'' Osuna BP: Antonio Osuna Antonio Pedro Osuna (born April 12, 1973 in Sinaloa, Mexico) is a former major league relief pitcher. He batted right and threw right. Antonio weighs 225 pounds and is 5 feet 10 inches tall. , sidelined most the season with elbow problems, made 35 pitches to hitters before the game and said he is ready to return. The club will decide the next move for Osuna, who underwent surgery May 20 to remove a bone spur Bone spur Also called an osteophyte, it is an outgrowth or ridge that forms on a bone. Mentioned in: Cervical Disk Disease, Cervical Spondylosis bone spur from his right elbow. He could throw to hitters again at Dodger Stadium • • [ or begin a minor-league rehabilitation assignment at Single-A San Bernardino. Osuna is expected back right after the All-Star break. Quick hits: Third baseman Adrian Beltre, who strained his groin Friday night, did not play Saturday and said he might not return until Monday in Colorado. ``It was still sore when I got to the ballpark,'' said Beltre, who has missed just five of 78 games this season. . . . Five scoreless innings by relievers Onan Masaoka and Mike Maddux continued a solid stretch for the Dodgers bullpen. In the last 35 games, they are 4-3 with a 2.52 ERA and nine saves. Masaoka also got his first major-league at-bat and was credited with a sacrifice. . . . Giants starter Mark Gardner (3-6) left after five innings with a strained left hip flexor flexor /flex·or/ (flek´ser) 1. causing flexion. 2. a muscle that flexes a joint. flexor retina´culum see entries under retinaculum. but recorded his second victory over the Dodgers in the last seven days. The Dodgers had just four hits off Gardner and three relievers. DODGERS vs. SAN FRANCISCO Time: 6:35 p.m., at Dodger Stadium. TV/Radio: No TV; XTRA-AM (1150), KWKW-AM (1330, Spanish). Matchup: In the series finale, Ismael Valdes (5-7, 3.72 ERA) faces left-hander Kirk Rueter (7-3, 4.94). Valdes has dropped a career-high five straight decisions but during that span has a respectable 3.64 ERA. In his last start, he limited San Diego to three runs and nine hits in seven innings Tuesday, but the Padres won 4-3 in 12 innings. Rueter is 4-1 lifetime against the Dodgers but has not faced them since 1997. His .660 career winning percentage (62-32) is the highest for a left-hander since 1980. There will be fireworks fireworks: see pyrotechnics. fireworks Explosives or combustibles used for display. Of ancient Chinese origin, fireworks evidently developed out of military rockets and explosive missiles and accompanied the spread of military explosives westward to at the end of the game. - Matt McHale CAPTION(S): Photo, Box PHOTO RAUL MONDESI The struggling Dodgers right fielder has one home run in his last 114 at-bats. BOX: DODGERS vs. SAN FRANCISCO (see text) |
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