Mondesi Gets Fanned, Then Thumbed

Raul Mondesi was ejected in the second inning of Sunday’s 4-2 loss to the Giants by home plate umpire Tom Hallion for arguing a called third strike.

Mondesi said something to Hallion as he walked away and Hallion quickly threw him out. Manager Bill Russell rushed out to calm Mondesi, but it was too late.

“We’re short-handed as it is and it was an unfortunate thing to lose a guy like him,” Russell said. “When you lose a bat like that it’s hard to replace.”

Mondesi threw down his batting helmet and glove as he left the batter’s box and was jeered as a security guard escorted him off the field.

Mondesi declined comment.

The Dodger offense, which had produced 22 runs in its last two games, missed Mondesi, who has 14 home runs and a team-high 45 runs batted in.

Roger Cedeno replaced him and went 0 for 3.

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Tom Candiotti, who pitched seven shutout innings in his first start of the season Saturday, could return to the rotation temporarily if Ramon Martinez, who missed his last start with a sore shoulder, is unable to make his next start.

But Candiotti isn’t going to make an issue of returning to the rotation.

“There’s no room,” he said. “I’ll just go back to my mop-up man role until they tell me otherwise.”

ON DECK

* Opponent--Colorado Rockies, three games.

* Site--Dodger Stadium.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--FX tonight, Channel 5 Tuesday, Fox Sports West 2 Wednesday.

* Radio--KABC (790), KWKW (1330).

* Records--Dodgers 36-37, Rockies 39-35.

* Record vs. Rockies (1996)--7-6.

DODGERS’ HIDEO NOMO (6-6, 3.71 ERA) vs. ROCKIES’ KEVIN RITZ (5-6, 6.33 ERA)

* Update--Nomo, who had a no-decision in his last start, a 7-5 victory over the Angels on Wednesday, is fourth in the National League with 114 strikeouts and sixth with a .221 opponent batting average. He has struck out seven or more in seven of his last eight starts and in 11 of his 15 starts. Larry Walker leads the NL in batting average (.415), runs (71), hits (110), multi-hit games (35), total bases (203), on-base average (.506), slugging percentage (.766) and extra base hits (48). Andres Galarraga, who leads the NL with 79 RBIs, is tied with Walker for second in home runs with 21. Vinny Castilla has 18 home runs and Ellis Burks has 17 for the Rockies, who lead the majors in home runs. The Rockies, who have a 19-21 road record, didn’t win their 19th road game last season until Aug. 4. Ritz has lost his last two outings, including a 5-2 loss at Oakland on June 15.

* Tuesday, 7 p.m.--Pedro Astacio (3-6, 3.80 ERA) vs. Roger Bailey (8-5, 5.27 ERA).

* Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.--Ismael Valdes (3-8, 3.47 ERA) vs. John Burke (2-1, 5.90 ERA).