DODGERS REPORT : Dreifort Finally Gets Even With a Victory Over Mets

Darren Dreifort continued to solidify his future in the starting rotation Friday night during a 3-1 victory over the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium.

The right-hander pitched eight strong innings in winning for the fifth time in seven starts. Dreifort (13-13) gave up only four hits and a run while striking out six and walking two before a crowd of 34,414.

Again, Dreifort provided what Manager Davey Johnson wanted.

“I always knew he was a good starter,” Johnson said. “He shut down a great hitting club and he was in control the whole night. He never tried to overthrow. He was smooth the whole way.”

With two out and runners on first and second in the ninth, Met pinch-hitter Bobby Bonilla grounded out against Dodger closer Jeff Shaw. Shaw earned his 32nd save for the Dodgers (66-75).

Raul Mondesi led off the seventh with his 29th home run to extend the Dodgers’ lead to 3-1.

Met catcher Mike Piazza went hitless in four at-bats, and the Mets (86-56) now trail the Atlanta Braves by four games in the National League East.

Dreifort’s performance against the Mets came on the heels of his seven-inning, one-run performance Sunday in a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Dreifort has pitched at least seven innings in his last five starts, including at least eight innings in three starts.

“I think it’s a learning experience for him,” said left fielder Gary Sheffield, who went one for two with a run batted in. “This is only his second year in the rotation, and sometimes it takes a while to trust your stuff.”

DODGER ATTENDANCE

Friday: 34,414

1999 (69 dates): 2,678,418

1998 (69 dates): 2,692,863

Total decrease: 14,445

1999 average: 38,818

1998 average: 39,027

Average decrease: 209

Dodger 1999 Season Almanac Through Friday

Dodger record:

overall 66-75

in home games 31-38

in road games 35-37

vs. NL East 20-19

vs. NL Central 25-24

vs. NL West 13-25

vs. American League 8-7

vs. left-handed starter 18-16

vs. right-handed starter 48-59

on grass 53-64

on artificial turf 13-11

in day games 21-19

in night games 45-56

in one-run games 19-25

DODGERS’

ISMAEL VALDES

(9-13, 3.50 ERA)

vs.

METS’

MASATO YOSHII

(10-8, 4.86 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7

TV--Channel 5 Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330)

* Update--Valdes is coming off one of his worst performances of the season Monday in an 8-6 loss to the Florida Marlins. He gave up seven hits--including two home runs--and six runs in three innings. That marked Valdes’ shortest outing of the season.

* Tickets--(323) 224-1HIT.