Dodgers Shut Out Negativity

PHILADELPHIA — The Dodgers, having made it through a trip they might have thought would never end, left for home Thursday after their 5-0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies with a new outlook.

“It took us to be embarrassed, to hit rock-bottom, for it to sink in, but I think we learned a lot about ourselves this trip,” center fielder Brett Butler said.

“At times, this team has a tendency to take things for granted. We have a lot of talent in this room, but we learned we just can’t throw our gloves on the field and think it’s going to happen. We’ve got to work hard to win.”

A few days ago, the Dodgers could barely stand one another, arguing after a team meeting that was supposed to have cleared the air. But moments after Pedro Astacio (3-0) pitched a nine-hit shutout before 16,546 at Veterans Stadium, players who weren’t speaking to each other earlier in the trip were hugging, high-fiving and carrying on like kids on the first day of summer vacation.

“We had some conflicts and that happens, but we kept battling,” Manager Bill Russell said. “You check out character on tough times, and see what you got. I like what I see. Hopefully, we’re headed in the right direction.”

The Dodgers (14-11) have won three consecutive games since being pummeled by the Atlanta Braves, 14-0, for their seventh loss in eight games.

“It’s amazing what happened,” said third baseman Todd Zeile, who hit a two-run homer off Curt Schilling that gave the Dodgers a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning. “You remember the way things used to be, and the different attitude there is now.

“I think we showed a lot of perseverance, and if nothing else, we know what it takes to win.”

Certainly, no one has persevered as Zeile has. He was hitting only .137 with six RBIs when he was benched Monday. In the three games since, he is hitting .500--five for 10--with a double, a homer and six RBIs.

“I feel like I’m back and contributing the way I should be,” Zeile said. “April’s behind me mentally. It was a thing where you almost start dreading going to the ballpark. But now I can’t wait to get there.

“There’s some weight lifted off my shoulders, and now I’m going back with a better, confident attitude.”

The Dodgers hardly lit up Schilling, getting only three of their four hits off him, but they made every one count, leaving only two baserunners, one during Schilling’s seven-inning stint.

Schilling gave up three hits, a walk and hit a batter, and struck out every Dodger in the lineup once.

Yet, there he was, being outpitched by Astacio, who was working on three days’ rest. Astacio hadn’t been told until the middle of Wednesday night’s game that he would be pitching today. Ismael Valdes, suffering lower abdominal pains, was the scheduled starter.

Said pitching coach Dave Wallace: “I told [Astacio] if he had problems with it, we’d go another direction. But he said, ‘Let’s go. I’m ready.’ That shows you the type of professional he really is.”

Astacio pitched his first shutout since May 24, 1995. It was only his second complete game in three years and the Dodgers’ first of the season.

Astacio, off to his best start, squirmed out of a jam in the first inning, watched second baseman Wilton Guerrero rob Gregg Jefferies of a two-run single in the second inning, then retired 17 of the next 21 batters. He tired in the eighth and ninth but still had enough to preserve the shutout and save the bullpen.

“This couldn’t have come at a better time,” said Wallace, whose bullpen was used 21 times during the seven-game trip. “That was huge.”

Astacio faced nine batters with runners in scoring position and not one hit the ball out of the infield.

The game ended with first baseman Eric Karros snaring a line-drive by Jefferies. Astacio leaped, pumped his fist and ran to Karros for the game ball.

“I’m so happy,” said Astacio, whose 2.13 earned-run average is the ninth-best in the major leagues. “[Catcher] Tom Prince [playing in place of the injured Mike Piazza] helped me a lot. I never checked him off once.

“It’s good, you know? I think we’re ready to have fun again.”