Arnold Starts, but Stops Appeal of Suspension

Rookie pitcher Jamie Arnold has dropped his appeal of a five-game suspension for fighting in the July 11 melee against the Seattle Mariners at Dodger Stadium.

Arnold will begin serving his suspension today. He was scheduled to meet with National League President Leonard Coleman in an attempt to reduce the suspension, but Dodger officials persuaded Arnold to start serving the suspension now because he would not be able to pitch for at least three days after starting Saturday in the Dodgers’ 7-6 victory over the New York Mets.

“Yeah, I’m going to drop it,” Arnold said. “I would be down at least three days anyway, so this seems like a good time to do it.”

Arnold gave up nine hits and five runs in 5 2/3 innings against the Mets. He struck out four and walked two.

The Mets had a 4-0 lead after two innings, and then Arnold settled down. The right-hander retired 11 in a row from the third through the sixth.

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Rookie catcher Paul LoDuca hit his first major league home run in the eighth inning against Met starter Al Leiter.

With one out, LoDuca hit a solo shot into the Dodger bullpen in left field on the first pitch. The homer cut the Mets’ lead to 5-4.

“It felt really good, especially growing up in Brooklyn and being a Mets fan,” LoDuca said. “All my relatives were in the stands, there were about 15 of them here, so it was pretty neat.”

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Second baseman Eric Young is scheduled to begin a rehabilitation assignment today at Class-A San Bernardino.

The leadoff batter was put on the 15-day disabled list July 28 (retroactive to July 24) because of a sprained left ankle. Young will return to the starting lineup when he is activated, Manager Davey Johnson said.

“I’m feel good,” Young said. “I’m anxious to get back in there and help the team. Hopefully, I’ll only need four or five games to get ready.”

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Shortstop Mark Grudzielanek sat out Saturday’s game because of a bruised right forearm. Grudzielanek was hit by a pitch by Met starter Octavio Dotel in the third inning Friday. He is listed as day-to-day.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ DARREN DREIFORT (8-11, 5.63 ERA) vs. METS’ RICK REED (10-3, 4.78 ERA)

Shea Stadium, 10:30 a.m. PDT

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

* Update--Dreifort has lost in his last three starts. The right-hander had his sixth quality start Tuesday during a 7-2 loss to the Houston Astros. The Dodgers committed two two-out, third-inning errors behind Dreifort that helped the Astros score five runs (four unearned) in the inning. Reed is 4-2 with a 4.79 earned-run average in 10 appearances with the Dodgers.