Dreifort Thinks He Has the Answer

Pitcher Darren Dreifort believes his performance has improved this season because he has stopped tinkering with everything.

“I think I was screwing around with too many things at the beginning of the year,” said Dreifort, who pitched 6 1/3 strong innings Sunday in the Dodgers’ 14-3 victory over the New York Mets.

“I was looking at different positions on the rubber, trying different pitches. During the season is no time to be doing that. I just went back to what’s natural.”

Dreifort’s teammates believe his development as a starter is among the keys to the organization’s future.

“The key for any player is to do it on a consistent basis, and that’s what this organization is looking for from Dreif,” first baseman Eric Karros said. “There’s no question he has the stuff, he just needs to show he can continue to do what he did today consistently.”

Said left fielder Gary Sheffield: “His stuff is unhittable when he stays ahead of hitters like he did today. He just has to stay out in front [in counts against batters].”

*

New York leadoff batter Roger Cedeno continued to terrorize his former team on the basepaths Sunday.

Cedeno singled in the Met half of the first, stole second--marking his major-league leading 57th stolen base--and advanced to third on catcher Todd Hundley’s error.

Cedeno gave the Mets a 1-0 lead when he scored on Edgardo Alfonzo’s groundout. Cedeno has stolen five bases and scored four runs in the first three games of the series. Dodger catchers have committed two errors trying to catch the speedy switch-hitter.

*

Rookie reliever Jeff Kubenka got the first hit of his career in the eighth inning against Chuck McElroy.

“It’s my first hit since I was a senior in high school,” said Kubenka, who gave up a run in 1 2/3 innings. “I couldn’t hit a lick. I had an .066 batting average.”

*

Barring a last-minute change, the Dodgers are expected to recall right-hander Mike Judd from triple-A Albuquerque to start Thursday against the Montreal Expos at Olympic Stadium.

*

Met starter Rick Reed (10-4) was forced to leave the game with two out in the second inning because of a strained finger on his pitching hand.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

KEVIN BROWN

(12-6, 3.39 ERA)

vs.

METS’

OREL HERSHISER

(11-8, 4.84 ERA)

Shea Stadium, 4:30 p.m. PDT.

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

* Update--Brown pitched his second complete game of the season last Wednesday in a 2-1 victory over the Houston Astros. Brown has won his last three decisions. Hershiser is 2-1 with a 6.60 earned-run average in three appearances against his former team.