Dreifort Is Not Happy With His Recent Outings

Pitcher Darren Dreifort is struggling and frustrated.

Dreifort improved to 3-1 after pitching a two-hit shutout May 12 in the Dodgers’ 13-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. He hasn’t had much fun since.

The right-hander is 1-5 in his last six outings and has dropped three in a row. His monthly earned-run average has increased from 2.67 in April to 5.40 in May to 6.00 in June.

Dreifort, 4-6 with a 4.76 ERA overall, is in only his third full season as a starter. He’s still growing into the role and has shown promise, but that’s not comforting to him now.

“The bottom line is keeping the team in the game and giving us a chance to win every time out, not pitching just bad enough to lose,” said Dreifort, who was 13-13 with a 4.79 ERA last season.

“I don’t care about my record or my ERA, I just care about putting us in the position to win. That’s my job, and that’s the only thing that matters. If we’re in a hole when I’m out there, then I’m not doing my job.”

Pitching coach Claude Osteen and Dreifort are working on the strategy facing batters. Dreifort sometimes relies too much on his 97-mph fastball, and Osteen wants him to mix his pitches better.

“Every once in a while, I’ll sit with Claude and he’ll explain something about throwing a certain pitch at a certain time,” Dreifort said. “I’ll think about it and say, ‘Oh, yeah, I see see why that makes sense,’ and then you have to go out and apply it.

“Every game and every situation is a learning experience. I learned a lot last year, and I’m still learning a lot, but it’s a combination of things that go into being successful.”

Dreifort has remained focused despite his problems. He works hard between starts, and he’s determined to break out of his slump.

“It’s a combination of a lot of things,” Dreifort said. “It’s a combination of command, pitch sequence, knowing the hitters you’re facing and concentration. There are a lot of factors, and you just have to get it figured out.”

*

The Dodgers will make several roster moves next week after the commissioner’s office rules on their appeal stemming from the May 16 brawl with fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

Sixteen players face fines and suspensions for their roles in the melee in a game against the Cubs. Manager Davey Johnson wants to shuffle the rotation once the situation is resolved.

Johnson plans to recall rookie right-hander Eric Gagne from triple-A Albuquerque. Gagne pitched eight shutout innings Thursday for the Dukes. He struck out 11 without a walk.

Left-hander Carlos Perez or right-hander Orel Hershiser might be bumped to the bullpen to make room for Gagne in the five-man rotation. Moreover, Johnson is considering carrying 12 pitchers--the club currently has 11--on the 25-man roster.

Hershiser could retain a rotation spot with a strong performance against the Cardinals today at Busch Stadium. Perez will start Monday against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium in another audition.

“We’re looking at a lot of different scenarios,” Johnson said. “There are a lot of things to consider, but it’s no secret what I think of [Gagne].”

*

Catcher Todd Hundley, on the disabled list because of a rib-cage injury, began his three-game rehabilitation assignment Friday at Albuquerque.

TODAY

DODGERS’ OREL HERSHISER

(1-3, 10.80 ERA)

vs.

CARDINALS’ DARRYL KILE

(10-4, 4.67 ERA)

Busch Stadium, 10 a.m. PDT

TV--Channel 11.

Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

* Update--Hershiser is working on seven days’ rest. The right-hander was skipped in the rotation because of a right hip injury. Kile is 7-6 with a 3.97 ERA against the Dodgers.