Dodger Pitcher Makes Point

Darren Dreifort has tantalized the Dodgers for six-plus seasons, prompting them to keep believing . . . and waiting.

Dreifort is eager to reward them for their patience, and he did Wednesday night in a 7-2 victory over the Montreal Expos.

The right-hander had a perfect game for 5 2/3 innings and gave up only one hit--Orlando Cabrera’s run-scoring double on a fastball--and the Expos’ first run in six strong innings before a crowd of 4,759 at Olympic Stadium.

“Everything felt good tonight,” said Dreifort, who had a no-hitter for five innings April 22 in the San Diego Padres’ 7-6, 11-inning victory at Dodger Stadium.

“And I’ll tell you what, [catcher] Angel Pena called a hell of a game back there. Solid defense, we put some runs up in the eighth and the ninth and that really helped us shut ‘em down.”

With two out in the sixth, Dreifort walked Montreal pitcher Britt Reames on a 3-and-1 count, giving the Expos their first baserunner.

Dreifort lost his bid for a no-hitter and shutout when Cabrera lined his first pitch down the right-field line for a double.

Dreifort then experienced control problems, hitting Geoff Blum with a pitch and throwing a wild pitch to put runners on second and third with Lee Stevens at the plate.

Stevens walked on a 3-and-1 pitch with cleanup batter Vladimir Guerrero on deck, and Manager Jim Tracy had Gregg Olson up in the bullpen.

But Olson would not be needed at that point.

Dreifort worked an 0-and-2 count against Guerrero, and the all-star grounded out to end the inning.

Although Dreifort (3-2) faltered in the sixth, he got through the inning, struck out nine with two walks and earned his second victory in as many starts.

Dreifort had his most efficient start of the season in a 102-pitch, 67-strike outing, continuing the rotation’s outstanding work.

“Our starting pitcher was fantastic,” Tracy said. “Cabrera got the [double] after the two-out walk, and I would have liked to see things continue to develop had he gotten Reames out with the way he was throwing.

“However, eventually we were getting to a point where we had to be conscious of the pitch count because he was right at 100 pitches, or in that area, at that particular time.”

Dodger hitters also had a good night for a change.

After going scoreless for 18 innings spanning three games, the Dodgers had 11 hits, including home runs by Tom Goodwin and Shawn Green.

Mark Grudzielanek had three singles in increasing his hitting streak to eight games, and Eric Karros had a two-run single.

The Dodgers staked Dreifort to a 2-0 lead on Grudzielanek’s run-scoring single in the third, and Goodwin’s solo homer--his second--in the sixth against Reames (2-5).

Green delivered the big blow in the eighth, hitting a three-run homer--No. 8--off reliever Scott Strickland to give the Dodgers a 5-1 lead.

“The thing I thought was very special is the fact of the big three-run home run by Shawn Green,” Tracy said. “You get that three-run home run right there and it opens up the ballgame.

“It creates some breathing room for our pitching staff that they haven’t had for maybe the last 10 days or so.”

Olson worked a scoreless seventh, Mike Fetters gave up a run in the eighth and Matt Herges finished the victory--escaping a bases-loaded jam when Cabrera grounded out--that enabled the Dodgers to reclaim the top spot in the National League West.

The Dodgers, who had been in first for 17 consecutive days, fell to second in the division after dropping the series opener.

Their victory in the second game--combined with the Florida Marlins’ 4-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants--gave the Dodgers a half-game lead, and Dreifort’s work was the key.

“He had everything working: the fastball, the slider and the change-up,” shortstop Alex Cora said. “With the stuff he had, and he was very aggressive too, you knew it was going to be a tough night for the hitters.”

*

INSIDE

Baseball: Sammy Sosa hits his 400th home run, but Cubs lose. D7