Hot, Cold Halves Baffle Beltre Too

HOUSTON — Third baseman Adrian Beltre continues to search for answers.

Beltre hopes to finally pinpoint why he has struggled in the first half and thrived after the All-Star break throughout his career.

He understands management and fans expect consistency, and he does too.

“I can’t explain it,” said Beltre, who tops the team with 63 runs batted in and leads the National League with 22 RBIs in August.

“I try to figure out why it keeps happening, but I don’t know what it is. It’s the same swing and the same pitchers, just different results.”

Beltre understands that his wide-ranging performance has stirred frustration throughout the organization, but he’s doing his best.

“When you’re not doing good, people are going to say stuff about you,” said Beltre, who has dazzled defensively. “You don’t expect people to talk good about you when you’re not doing fine.

“It’s true: I was terrible the first half. It’s nothing that I would expect [anyone] to be happy about, but I’ve been swinging the bat better now and getting better results.”

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ON DECK

Opponent -- Houston Astros, three games.

Site -- Minute Maid Park.

Tonight -- 5 p.m.

TV -- Fox Sports Net 2 today and Wednesday, Channel 13 on Thursday.

Radio -- KFWB (980), KWKW (1330).

Records -- Dodgers 67-62, Astros 68-62.

2002 record vs. Astros -- 3-3.

Today, 5 -- Odalis Perez (10-9, 4.34) vs. Ron Villone (5-2, 3.10).

Wednesday, 5 p.m. -- Hideo Nomo (15-9, 2.70) vs. Wade Miller (10-11, 4.40).

Thursday, 5 p.m. -- Wilson Alvarez (2-1, 2.36) vs. Tim Redding (8-12, 3.70).