Osuna Supplies a Happy Ending

SEATTLE —  Antonio Osuna was the last pitcher the Dodgers should have relied on to protect leads earlier this season, according to Osuna.

He earned the closer role during spring training, but the right-hander’s confidence was shaken because of several poor outings in April. Scott Radinsky got the position when Osuna faltered, and Osuna waited patiently for another shot at the job.

That time has arrived.

Osuna earned his second save in as many days Sunday afternoon by striking out David Segui with the bases loaded to secure the Dodgers’ 7-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners.

“I felt confident when [Manager] Bill [Russell] put me in,” Osuna said. “It was a tough situation, but it’s not like I’ve never been in those situations before.”

With a raucous Kingdome crowd of 41,514 cheering for Segui, the pinch-hitter struck out swinging on a 2-and-2 count to give the Dodgers their second victory in the three-game series.

Osuna nailed down his third save overall and the victory for starter Darren Dreifort (4-5), who pitched eight impressive innings to win for the fourth time in his last five starts.

The Dodgers staked Dreifort to a 7-0 lead after their five-run sixth inning, which was highlighted by a three-run double by rookie Paul Konerko, who was the designated hitter in the American League ballpark.

The Dodgers moved back to .500 at 31-31, and Osuna moved up in his manager’s book.

“Osuna came in and got the job done,” Russell said. “He took the ball and he got the tough out when we needed it.

“It takes a special guy to take that ball in a high-pressure situation, and he gave us what we were looking for today.”

And without a moment to spare.

The Mariners scored three runs and batted around in the ninth. They cut the Dodgers’ lead to 7-3 on a two-out, two-run home run by Ken Griffey Jr.--his AL-leading 24th homer--against reliever Mark Guthrie, who opened the inning.

Radinsky, who has been struggling, replaced Guthrie after Edgar Martinez singled and pinch-hitter Rich Amaral walked. Dan Wilson walked on four pitches and, after going to a 2-and-0 count, Radinsky gave up a run-scoring single to Glenallen Hill, cutting the Dodgers’ lead to 7-4.

Goodbye, Radinsky.

Hello, Osuna.

Segui pinch-hit for Russ Davis, which stirred concern on the Dodger bench. Segui, who was pinch-hitting for the first time this season, was batting .345 with 10 homers and 43 RBIs, and he represented the winning run.

Osuna got ahead in the count, 0 and 2, by throwing fastballs. He struck out Segui on a fastball.

“I threw him all fastballs because I thought he might be [waiting] for a breaking ball,” Osuna said. “And I got him out on fastballs in the past.”

The performance further helped to bolster Osuna’s confidence.

“At the start of the season, I did lose my confidence,” said Osuna, who lowered his earned-run average to 2.30. “But I’ve been pitching well lately, and it’s back to normal.”

Dreifort did his job through the eighth, giving up only one run on nine hits. He struck five with two walks while throwing 109 pitches, 71 strikes.

The defense played well behind Dreifort, turning three double plays. But a mistake by right fielder Gary Sheffield led to the Mariners’ first run.

Sheffield tried to make a sliding, back-handed stop on a sinking line drive hit by Joey Cora in the seventh. But the ball bounced over his glove and rolled toward the wall, and Cora wound up with a one-out triple. Alex Rodriguez then singled to left to cut the Dodgers’ lead to 7-1.

Dreifort struck out Griffey--for the third time--for the second out and Rob Ducey grounded out to end the inning. After Dreifort pitched a scoreless eighth, he was replaced by Guthrie, and the problems began.

But fortunately for the Dodgers on Sunday, Osuna answered the call.

“He has good enough stuff to be a closer, but it’s just a matter of consistency,” Russell said. “We’ll just have to keep finding out.”

Osuna believes he already knows the answer.