DODGERS NOTEBOOK: PEREZ EARNS REPRIEVE AFTER THIS OUTING.Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer Carlos Perez, the Dodgers' lone lefty starter, didn't earn the win against San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden on Saturday. He did, however, earn another start and seemingly a secure slot in the Dodgers rotation. Manager Davey Johnson ``When you know you're going to start in five days, that makes it easier,'' said Perez, who lowered his ERA from an NL-leading 7.38 to 6.92. ``That's good for me. I pitched well against the Giants and Atlanta. It makes me feel OK. It's like the Carlos Perez of last September.'' Perez went 4-1 with a 1.05 ERA in five starts at the end of last season, but it's been nothing comparable since. His last start was June 16. He was pulled after 3-1/3 innings, bashed a water cooler and spent much of the next 10 days long-tossing in the outfield to build arm strength and loosen what had become a tight throwing motion. Because of an off day, the Dodgers didn't need a fifth starter until Saturday. That it came against the Giants was perfect. San Francisco is 7-12 in games started In baseball statistics, games started (denoted by GS) indicates the number of games that a pitcher has started for his team. The pitcher is credited with starting the game if he is listed in the starting lineup as the team's pitcher, even if he does not throw the first pitch to the by lefties and 33-23 against right-handers. ``I wanted him against this club because you need lefties against this club,'' Johnson said. ``I was expecting him to have a good day and he did a good job.'' An unexpected change in the availability of pitchers Ismael Valdes
n. A sharp, sudden physical pain. v. To cause to feel a sharp pain. in non-throwing shoulder) could alter Johnson's plan to start Perez against the Giants at home. Both pitchers are expected to make their next starts. No rabbit trick: Giants first baseman J.T. Snow pulled off a Houdiniesque move on Perez in the fourth inning, getting the pitcher with the hidden ball trick In the game of baseball, the hidden ball trick is a play in which the runner is deceived about the location of the ball, in an effort to have him tagged out. Typically, the hidden ball trick is tried when the runner has beaten the throw to second base. . Perez bunted for a two-out base hit, but Snow never threw the ball back to pitcher Chris Brock. Instead, the two just lifted their gloves toward each other. Brock stalled for time behind the pitcher's mound, and Perez, after talking with first-base coach John Shelby, wandered off first base. Snow tagged him for the third out. ``I didn't know why he touched my leg,'' said Perez, who had three hits. ``I saw the ball in his glove and said, `Oh, my God.' '' Sayin' hey: A surprise visitor stopped by the Dodgers' clubhouse before the game to chat for a few minutes. With the death of Joe DiMaggio in the spring, Willie Mays is widely regarded as the greatest living ballplayer, a distinction DiMaggio once held. ``Probably Mays, no doubt,'' Johnson agreed. ``(Ted) Williams or him. Willie was electrifying e·lec·tri·fy tr.v. e·lec·tri·fied, e·lec·tri·fy·ing, e·lec·tri·fies 1. To produce electric charge on or in (a conductor). 2. a. . Williams was as pure a hitter as you can get.'' Johnson, who played against Mays in the early '70s, recalled Mays' toughness as a ballplayer. ``He came into home and put his shoe right up under the neck of the (catcher), and everyone said, `Great play,' '' Johnson said. ``(Mays) almost decapitated de·cap·i·tate tr.v. de·cap·i·tat·ed, de·cap·i·tat·ing, de·cap·i·tates To cut off the head of; behead. [Late Latin d him and everyone said, `Wow, what a great play.' '' F.Y.I.: Johnson said catcher Angel Pena's ailing right hamstring, which forced him out of Friday's game, was in better condition Saturday than it was before Friday's game. Hundley batted second, the fourth Dodger to bat there in four games. . . . Because of the extra activity expected in the Bay Area today, the Dodgers had to change their plans. The bus is leaving the hotel 30 minutes earlier than usual because traffic is supposed to resemble the 405/101 merge at rush hour. Not only is the Gay and Lesbian Pride parade slated for today, but the X-Games are in town. . . . The Giants activated outfielder Ellis Burks before the game. DODGERS vs. SAN FRANCISCO Time: 5:05 p.m., at 3Com Park. TV/Radio: ESPN ESPN Entertainment and Sports Programming Network ; 1150-AM, KWKW-AM (1330 Spanish). Matchup: The teams wrap up their three-game series with Dodgers right-hander Chan Ho Park (4-5, 5.14 ERA) facing Giants righty right·y Informal n. pl. right·ies 1. A right-handed person. 2. An advocate or member of the political right. adv. Mark Gardner (1-6, 7.8) on national television. Park last won May 26 against Cincinnati. In his two starts since returning from a seven-game suspension, Park has pitched better than his 6.75 ERA indicates. He was undone by a five-run seventh inning in one start. Park has had trouble at San Francisco, going 0-3 despite a 3.78 ERA. Gardner is 1-4 with a 6.22 ERA since coming off the disabled list May 8. Gardner is 6-6 with a 4.25 ERA against the Dodgers, but none of his 22 appearances have been as a starter. - Brian Dohn CAPTION(S): Box BOX: DODGERS vs. SAN FRANCISCO (see text) |
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