DREIFORT THROWS AS IF IT MATTERS DODGERS STILL BREATHING IN WILD-CARD RACE DODGERS 9, SAN FRAN. 0.Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer Just when it turned too late, when everything turned hopeless, the Dodgers turned it on. Backed by another superb start from right-hander Darren Dreifort Left fielder 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. returned from his back injury and bolstered the offense with a homer and three RBI RBI abbr. Baseball runs batted in Noun 1. rbi - a run that is the result of the batter's performance; "he had more than 100 rbi last season" run batted in . His 42nd homer, and second since Aug. 19, leaves him one shy of equaling Duke Snider's single-season franchise mark. The homer was Sheffield's 23rd at home, breaking the club record. Mike Piazza Michael Joseph Piazza (born September 4, 1968 in Norristown, Pennsylvania) is an American Major League Baseball player who currently plays for the Oakland Athletics. He began his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and played for the Florida Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres held the record of 22, which he set in 1997. Kevin Elster Elster played for six different ballclubs during his career: the New York Mets (1986-1992), New York Yankees (1994-1995), Philadelphia Phillies (1995), added a pinch-hit homer, the 208th of the season. That tied the club's single-season record set in 1953. Elster's homer also tied a major-league record as the Dodgers' 12th pinch-hit homer. Cincinnati (1957) and the Mets (1953) also did it. How much it matters is debatable since the next loss by the Dodgers (84-73) or the next win by the Mets will end the Dodgers' playoff dreams. ``I think it's frustrating to everybody because everybody realizes we have the pieces to get the job done here, but we all know we haven't gotten it done,'' said Dreifort, 28, who has established career highs for starts (31) and innings pitched In baseball, innings pitched (IP) are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher is in the game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. (185 2/3). ``You also have to realize what this team has gone through this season, with injuries and suspensions and illnesses. We've done a fantastic job of keeping it together mentally.'' Dreifort (12-8) allowed two hits and struck out four in seven shutout innings. In their last 15 games, Dodgers starters have allowed 19 runs and have a 1.62 ERA. Dodgers management said earlier the key to the second half of the season was Dreifort's performance, though it didn't work out that way. Dreifort is 8-1 with a 3.25 ERA since the All-Star break, but the Dodgers collapsed. ``(Dreifort's) living up to his potential, that's what he's doing,'' Dodgers manager Davey Johnson DODGERS VS. SAN FRANCISCO Time: 7:05 p.m., Dodger Stadium. TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net 2; 1150-AM, KWKW-AM (1330 Spanish). Update:In the second-to-last home game, the Dodgers will take a look at their future again as rookie right-hander Luke Prokopec (1-0, 1.69 ERA) gets the start. Prokopec has allowed three earned runs in 16 innings and impressed the club with a sensational year at Double-A San Antonio. He's 1-0 with a 2.61 ERA in two starts. The Giants counter with lefty Kirk Rueter (10-9, 4.12) as San Francisco sets up its rotation for the playoffs. Rueter is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA against the Dodgers this season. - Brian Dohn CAPTION(S): 2 photos, 2 boxes Photo: (1) SNIDER (2) SHEFFIELD Box: (1) CHASING DUKE (2) DODGERS VS. SAN FRANCISCO (see text) |
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