DREIFORT SETS TONE; PITCHER'S GRIT VS. GALARRAGA SPARKS DODGERS : DODGERS 1, ATLANTA 0.Byline: Matt McHale Daily News Staff Writer Darren Dreifort At the plate was Andres Galarraga, who had beaten the Dodgers with home runs the past two days, shaken further their confidence and sent a message that somebody's season was just about over. Dreifort hit him in the left side with a fastball. And when Galarraga took a couple of steps toward the mound, Dreifort came down to get in his face. Nothing happened. Or did it? Although Dreifort wasn't around when Eric Young Eric Young can refer to:
Does it mean the Dodgers' dreary season finally has turned around with a victory over the best team in the National League? Baseball rarely paints with such broad strokes. ``It doesn't really matter if the pitch was intentional or not,'' said closer Jeff Shaw
Dreifort wouldn't say if he meant what he threw. Galarraga was in the trainers room after the game and did not comment. But as the Dodgers head out on the road after a disappointing 4-5 homestand, they hopefully take a little of Dreifort's grit with them. ``Momentum is too strong a word, especially when you played the way we have,'' shortstop Mark Grudzielanek Mark James Grudzielanek (born June 30, 1970 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is a second baseman in Major League Baseball who currently plays for the Kansas City Royals. Previously, Grudzielanek played with the Montreal Expos (1995-1998), Los Angeles Dodgers (1998-2002), Chicago Cubs said. ``But this thing is almost over. We need to have a great trip, one week where we play like we can.'' Dreifort pitched seven innings and allowed just one hit, a second-inning single by Javy Lopez. He also walked six and always seemed to be pitching out of the stretch. Scott Radinsky Radinsky finished his career with a 42-25 record, a 3. (5-5) pitched the eighth to get the victory, which moved the Dodgers within six games in the wild-card race. ``Darren's effort was such a boost for us,'' said 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 , whose team has not been swept at home all season. ``It would have been very difficult to leave here on a down note.'' There were plenty in the past week, including a .197 (13 for 66) average with runners in scoring position In the sport of baseball, a baserunner is said to be in scoring position when he is on second or third base. The distinction between being on first base and second or third base is that a runner on first can usually only score if the batter hits an extra base hit, while a runner on . One bright spot was Young, who had 14 hits on the homestand. But he was 0 for 3 Sunday before hitting a 1-1 fastball from Denny Neagle ``Did I think it was gone? I never think it's gone,'' said Young, who has 37 homers in his six-year career but two in the last two games. ``I was running like it was triple.'' After the Dodgers scored just five runs in the first two games of the series, it was clear they weren't going to break out against Neagle, who is having a tough season after winning 20 games in 1997. ``(Tom) Glavine was the hard-luck guy last year,'' Neagle said. ``He had 12 no decisions with a 2.50 ERA in those games. I was getting seven, eight runs a game every time I pitched. Now, it's my turn.'' The Dodgers got the leadoff hitter In baseball, a leadoff hitter is a batter who bats first in the lineup. Strategy Leadoff hitters must possess certain traits to be successful: they must reach base at a proficient rate and be able to steal bases. on in the third, fourth and fifth innings, but Neagle wiggled out of trouble each time. Their best chance came in the fourth, when Trenidad Hubbard Trenidad Aviel Hubbard (born Trent Hubbard[1], May 11, 1966, in Chicago, Illinois) was a Major League Baseball journeyman outfielder. He is an alumnus of Southern University and A&M College. opened with a double to right-center. But Raul Mondesi's impatience at the plate was glaring when he struck out on pitches out of the strike zone. Gary Sheffield, back in the starting lineup after missing two games with a sore right thumb, flied deep to center, but Andruw Jones glided to the wall and made the catch look easy. Eric Karros grounded to third to end the inning. Dreifort was through after seven but had a chance to win in the bottom of the inning Noun 1. bottom of the inning - the second half of an inning; while the home team is at bat bottom inning, frame - (baseball) one of nine divisions of play during which each team has a turn at bat when Grudzielanek singled with one out. With Charles Johnson at the plate, Grudzielanek took off for second but stopped halfway. Lopez threw to second, but Grudzielanek raced back to first and beat the return throw. It was the kind of break the Dodgers hadn't seen all series. But Roger Cedeno batted for Dreifort and grounded into an inning-ending double play. ``It was a hit-and-run play and I like that,'' Grudzielanek said. ``That's what we need to do, set a tone, put pressure on the other team. It didn't mean a run tonight, but it will.'' Dreifort struggled in his previous four starts, allowing 16 earned runs in 24 innings over four starts. Before that, he limited the Cincinnati Reds to one hit in eight innings July 20, his only victory in six weeks. ``I threw a lot of pitches,'' said Dreifort, who had 118. ``But I felt good out there. I got some great defense. This was a good win.'' CAPTION(S): 2 Photos PHOTO (1--Color) Darren Dreifort surrendered one hit in seven innings and stood up to Andres Galarraga. (2--Color) Eric Young, left, is congratulated by his son, who is the team's ball boy, after homering. Tom Mendoza/Daily News |
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