Roberts Has Fond Memories of L.A.

SAN DIEGO â€”  One World Series ring and two teams later, Dave Roberts said he had no regrets about being traded by the team with which he once said he spent “the three best years of my life.â€�

The Dodgers were in first place by 2 1/2 games in the National League West on July 31 when they shipped Roberts to the Boston Red Sox for minor league outfielder Henri Stanley. All Roberts did with Boston was steal a pivotal base and score the tying run in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the American League championship series, helping to set the stage for the Red Sox’s historic series comeback victory over the New York Yankees.

“To be on that stage and be part of the Yankee-Red Sox rivalry and to have an opportunity to win a world championship is something that I dreamed about as a kid,� Roberts said.

The San Diego Padres acquired Roberts in December by trading outfielder Jay Payton, infielder Ramon Vazquez and minor league pitcher David Pauley to the Red Sox. Roberts started the season on the disabled list because of a groin injury and didn’t play in his first game until Monday. The center fielder played his first game against the Dodgers on Thursday.

“It’s going to be a little bit weird,� Roberts said before the game, “but for the most part a lot of the guys I played with are no longer there.�

Roberts batted .277 with a career-high 45 stolen bases in 2002, but he became expendable last year after the team acquired outfielders Milton Bradley and Jayson Werth before the season and Steve Finley at the trading deadline.

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Elmer Dessens returned to Los Angeles to be examined today by Dr. Frank Jobe after experiencing a recurrence of the muscle spasms in his right shoulder that forced him out of Tuesday’s game in the fourth inning. Manager Jim Tracy said there was a possibility Dessens could go on the disabled list to open a roster spot for Brad Penny, who will be activated before making his season debut Sunday against Colorado. If cold weather in Denver prevents Penny from pitching, rookie D.J. Houlton will start.

ON DECK

Opponent -- Colorado Rockies, three games.

Site -- Coors Field.

TV -- FSN West 2 tonight and Sunday, Channel 13 on Saturday.

Radio -- 980, 1330.

Records -- Dodgers 12-3; Rockies 4-11.

Record vs. Rockies -- (2004) 11-8.

Tonight, 5:30 PDT -- Jeff Weaver (2-0, 3.60) vs. Jason Jennings (0-2, 5.94).

Saturday, 5 p.m. -- Odalis Perez (3-0, 2.04) vs. Shawn Chacon (1-0, 1.50).

Sunday, noon -- Brad Penny (0-0, 0.00) vs. Jeff Francis (1-0, 4.32).