Dawkins on the way back from .109

Nick Christensen

Monday, April 28, 2003 | 9:42 a.m.

Gookie Dawkins knows all about averages.

So the recent hitting slump that has his batting average down to .109 doesn't have him worried.

"No matter how good or how bad things get, I always think positive," Dawkins said Sunday before the 51s had their six-game winning streak end in an 8-1 loss to the Sacramento River Cats at Cashman Field. "I'm not worried about how I start. I'm just going to continue to work at it."

Dawkins, a 23-year-old shortstop, was acquired by the Dodgers when he was waived by the Cincinnati Reds March 17. In three seasons as one of the Reds' top prospects and the heir apparent to Barry Larkin, he was hitting .167 after 96 at-bats.

Gookie, who was born Travis Sentell Dawkins but nicknamed Gookie by his father -- "My dad said I looked like my older brother, Mookie" -- thinks some tweaking of his style will improve his average.

"I'm pulling off the ball when I hit," he said. "I need to stay on it longer. My timing isn't there yet, and then I just need the at-bats to work my way out of it."

Dawkins was 2-for-4 Saturday, including two fly balls to center and a strikeout. He sat out Sunday and is expected back in the lineup tonight when the 51s begin a four-game series at Oklahoma against the Redhawks.

51s manager John Shoemaker said Dawkins is working with hitting coach George Hendrick.

"They've been working very hard during practice to use the full field to get a little more bat control and getting himself into position to hit a little sooner," said Shoemaker.

"He understands how he was going about his approach to hitting may not be the approach that's going to get him a lot of consistency. I do see he's willing to accept the effort of George, the batting cages. We're hoping he can come up with a big hit for us and get some confidence because this guy's a good ballplayer."

Dawkins believes everything will average out in the long run.

"I have a lot of confidence in me. If you play poorly -- in a lot of games, it becomes mental.

"I have to stay positive up here," he said as he pointed to his head, "and things will work out. I have to take things game by game, play by play, day by day."

51s left-hander Andrew Lorraine was a loser for the first time Sunday. He came into the game with a 2.45 earned run average, but allowed six runs in four innings. He struggled through the first inning, and ended up walking No. 8 hitter Adam Melhuse with the bases loaded.

River Cats starter Justin Duchscherer pitched eight scoreless innings and was backed by a 13-hit attack. The Rivers Cats left Las Vegas trailing the first-place 51s by four games in the Pacific Coast League Southern Division.

Mike Saipe (1-1) is scheduled to start for the 51s tonight at Oklahoma City.