DODGERS NOTEBOOK: PARK LOSES CONTROL OF BREAKING BALL.Byline: Matt McHale Daily News Staff Writer After winning 11 consecutive games at Dodger Stadium • • [ , Chan Ho Park has dropped his last two, including Saturday's 5-3 loss to 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. . Park was National League Pitcher of the Month The Pitcher of the Month award is a Major League Baseball award named by each league for each month of the regular season. The National League started recognizing the award in 1975. The American League followed in 1979. after going 4-0 in July. He was 9-0 in his last two Julys, but suddenly he has allowed 11 earned runs in his last 20 innings. Manager Glenn Hoffman Glenn Edward Hoffman (born July 7 1958 in Orange, California) is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball and the current third base coach for the San Diego Padres. Previously, in 1998 he took over the managerial position for the Los Angeles Dodgers final half of the season when said Park never had control of his breaking ball, which resulted in a career-high six walks in six innings. ``He threw a lot of pitches early in the game and by the fifth he was around 104,'' said Hoffman, who pulled Park after 115 pitches. ``He didn't have the command we're used to seeing from him.'' Park walked Chipper Jones Larry Wayne "Chipper" Jones, Jr. (born April 24, 1972, in DeLand, Florida), is an American Major League baseball player. Although initially a shortstop, Chipper has spent most of his career as the starting third baseman for the Atlanta Braves. in the first inning before Andres Galarraga hit a three-run homer. He walked Michael Tucker with two outs in the sixth, and Jones doubled him home. ``The walks killed me,'' Park said. ``I hurt the team.'' Luke struggles: Gary Sheffield
Gary Antonian Sheffield (born November 18, 1968 in Tampa, Florida) is a Major League Baseball designated hitter and outfielder for the Detroit Tigers. is expected to return tonight after missing two starts with a sore right thumb. That will mean some much-needed days off for Matt Luke Matthew Clifford Luke (born February 26, 1971 in Long Beach, California) is a former outfielder and first baseman in Major League Baseball. He attended college at the University of California and played for five different major league teams in his career: the New York Yankees, Los , who is 1 for 12 on the homestand. After striking out four times Friday, he struck out two more times Saturday before being lifted for a pinch hitter pinch-hit intr.v. pinch-hit, pinch-hit·ting, pinch-hits 1. Baseball To bat in place of a player scheduled to bat, especially when a hit is badly needed. 2. , Sheffield, who grounded into a double play. Since his average peaked at .337 on July 4, Luke has gone 12 for 85 (.141). ``He has been great in batting practice, but there is a big difference between batting practice and the real thing,'' hitting instructor Mickey Hatcher Michael Vaughn Hatcher (born March 15, 1955 in Cleveland, Ohio) is a former Major League Baseball player and a current coach. Most notably, he was Kirk Gibson's replacement for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1988 World Series, batting .368 (7/19) with two home runs and five RBI. said. ``He is trying really hard, probably too hard. But it is something you go through. He hasn't played a lot and he wants to succeed, but sometimes you do get a little overexposed o·ver·ex·pose tr.v. o·ver·ex·posed, o·ver·ex·pos·ing, o·ver·ex·pos·es 1. To expose too long or too much: Don't overexpose the children to television. 2. . They have made adjustments on him. Now it is his turn.'' Young is hot: Eric Young Eric Young can refer to:
Young is now 13 for 31 on the homestand, including a four-hit game against Florida last Tuesday. He entered the game with a .367 on-base percentage and has a .335 (58 for 173) average in his last 46 games. Saturday's home run cut the Braves' lead to 4-3, but the Dodgers never got closer. ``They stayed in control,'' Young said. ``(John) Smoltz was still throwing well. They never lost control of the game.'' Quick hits: Mark Grudzielanek, who committed a league-high 24 errors in 118 games for Montreal, has just one in his first 14 games with the Dodgers. ``We've been working on his footwork more than his glove,'' third-base coach Joey Amalfitano said. ``Footwork is such a big part about playing the infield.'' . . . Catcher Charles Johnson was given the day game off after catching Friday night. He is 0 for 10 lifetime against Smoltz. Tom Prince started and went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts. It was his first appearance on the homestand. He went 1 for 12 on the last trip and is batting .164 (12 for 61). . . . The Dodgers' last victory over the Braves was July 20, 1997 (eight games). DODGERS vs. ATLANTA Time: 5:05 p.m., Dodger Stadium TV/Radio: 1150-AM, KWKW-AM (1330 Spanish). Matchup: The Dodgers hope to avoid being swept when they send Darren Dreifort (6-11, 3.89) against Braves left-hander Denny Neagle (11-10, 3.68). Dreifort has been struggling; he walked five in 5-2/3 innings in a 5-1 loss against Montreal then gave up 11 hits and five runs in five innings last Tuesday against Florida. In that game, his control improved - he walked one and struck out eight. Neagle, a 20-game winner last season, allowed two earned runs in seven innings Tuesday but lost to San Diego 3-1. Neagle is 7-4 lifetime with a 2.23 ERA in 14 games against the Dodgers. - Matt McHale CAPTION(S): Box BOX: DODGERS vs. ATLANTA (see text) |
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