Dodgers Buy a Win on Trip to the Gap

By JASON REID

July 14, 2000 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

Adrian Beltre is hoping for a big second half.

The young Dodger third baseman got off to a good start Thursday night, tripling in the 10th inning and scoring the winning run on Jim Leyritz’s two-out hit in a 4-3 interleague victory against the Angels before 35,456 at Dodger Stadium.

With one out, Beltre just missed a home run, hitting a shot into the right-field corner against reliever Al Levine (1-1).

Angel Manager Mike Scioscia brought left fielder Darin Erstad in to cover the hole at second in a drawn-in infield, and Kevin Elster grounded to Erstad for the second out.

Leyritz, who entered as a defensive replacement in the top of the inning, hit a 1-1 pitch into the gap in right-center for his second game-winning hit with the Dodgers. He ended a 5-4 victory June 28 against the San Diego Padres with a two-out, ninth-inning pinch-hit.

Beltre was three for five with a stolen base. Antonio Osuna (2-4) was the third pitcher to work a scoreless inning in relief of starter Carlos Perez, who pitched seven strong innings.

“I just have to keep working hard,” Beltre said. “I’m still young and I’m learning. I don’t consider myself a veteran player yet, and you’re going to struggle sometimes when you’re learning.

“I just have to concentrate more and swing at better pitches. You know that you’re going to get your chances to help the team, you just have to be ready.”

Terry Adams worked a perfect eighth, and Mike Fetters a perfect ninth for the Dodgers (45-42). The Angels dropped to 47-42.

“It was a great win because we were short-handed,” Dodger Manager Davey Johnson said. “Our bullpen was great and Carlos pitched great.

“Leyritz does have a flare for the dramatic. That’s why they call him, ‘the king.’ He lives for those situations, and it’s my job to get him in more of those situations.”

Said Leyritz: “The team put me in that situation. The triple took all the pressure off. I just had to look for a pitch to hit. If he makes a good pitch, he gets me. If he hangs one, like that fastball up in the zone, I get him.”

The Dodgers stranded the potential winning run at second in the ninth.

Paul LoDuca, recalled from triple-A Albuquerque before the game, led off with a double down the right-field line against right-hander Mark Petkovsek. Gary Sheffield grounded to second, and LoDuca couldn’t advance on the out.

Shawn Green was walked intentionally, and Eric Karros grounded into an inning-ending double play.

The Dodgers tied the score, 3-3, in the seventh, but left the bases loaded.

Green pulled the Dodgers even with a single against reliever Shigetoshi Hasegawa after Troy Glaus’ two-run homer against Perez in the top of the inning gave the Angels the lead.

Hasegawa replaced Angel starter Ken Hill, who gave up two runs on Sheffield’s 28th homer in a six-inning, 123-pitch outing.

LoDuca reached base in the seventh on first baseman Mo Vaughn’s one-out error, and Sheffield walked with Green on deck.

Green closed the first half in a six-for-50 slump, and struck out in his first three at-bats Thursday. On a 2-2 count, Green singled through the middle past diving second baseman Adam Kennedy to drive in LoDuca, and Sheffield advanced to third.

Hasegawa walked Karros on four pitches to load the bases. The Dodgers had a chance to take command, but Todd Hollandsworth struck out swinging and Beltre grounded out.

The Angels struck quickly in the seventh.

Perez befuddled them with a sharp change-up and took a 2-1 lead into the inning. Garret Anderson singled to right, and then Glaus crushed a first-pitch fastball from Perez for his 26th homer.

The blast down the left-field line gave the Angels a 3-2 lead. Glaus homered on Perez’s 80th pitch, which isn’t many for six-plus innings.

But it wasn’t surprising that Perez struggled in the seventh. He has often experienced problems working more than six innings the last two seasons, and did Thursday.

Still, Perez again showed why he has emerged as the No. 3 starter.

The left-hander gave up nine hits and three runs. He struck out two without a walk.

The Angels cut the lead to 2-1 in the fifth on Bengie Molina’s run-scoring single, and Dodger center fielder Hollandsworth had a rough inning defensively.

Hollandsworth misplayed Glaus’ long fly ball to lead off the inning, breaking in and turning the wrong way. The ball went over Hollandsworth’s head and Glaus wound up with a double.

Glaus scored from second on Molina’s single to center and the crowd booed Hollandsworth.

LoDuca’s situation underscores the club’s roster problems.

He is on the 25-man roster for the second time this season.

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