Giovanni

Carrara

In 23 2/3 innings, Carrara has struck out 25, walked four and posted a 1.14 ERA. When Brad Penny went down yesterday, Carrara came in to pitch 4 1/3 scoreless innings. Manager Jim Tracy said he’s not considering Carrara for any spot starts because he’s needed in long relief. No fantasy value, though.

Carrara might have a spot in the majors for the start of the year.

''To a certain extent, it’s mechanical,’' manager Jim Tracy said. ''He’s rushing his delivery and, as a result, his pitches are up in the strike zone.’' Stay away.

Carrara blames the food poisoning on a bad batch of Chinese food he ate on Sunday night. He will resume his role as a middle reliever.

Miguel Olivo homered in the ninth to make it a 4-2 game. Takashi Saito definitely needed the night off after working five of the last six days. Jonathan Broxton should have been available to enter in the ninth inning, but manager Grady Little instead stuck with Carrara, who has a 2.95 ERA in 21 1/3 innings since being called up on July 4. It’s unlikely that the 38-year-old will earn more than one or two additional saves over the rest of the year.

Chew ‘em up, spit ‘em out. Carrara, who was called up on July 4, threw 18 2/3 innings in his first 32 days with the Dodgers and compiled a 2.41 ERA. Likely due to some fatigue, he had given up runs in six of his last seven appearances, taking his ERA to 5.04. He’ll be back in September if he goes unclaimed on waivers.

Carrara, who failed to make the Pirates out of spring training, is back with the club be pitched with the past two years. He had a 4.62 ERA in 25 1/3 innings for Las Vegas. The Dodgers will use him in middle relief.

Carrara had been away from the Mariners to be with his wife, who gave birth on Sunday.

Carrara loaded the bases in a 7-4 game, but he retired Charles Thomas and Julio Franco to end the game.