Injury Sidelines Sheffield for Remainder of Season

Right fielder Gary Sheffield will be sidelined for the remainder of the season because of a sprained left ankle, Dodger officials announced Tuesday.

Foot specialist Phillip Kwong examined Sheffield’s injured ankle Tuesday afternoon, determining that the all-star outfielder won’t be ready to play for six weeks. The regular season ends Sept. 27 for the Dodgers, who have conceded they won’t earn the National League wild-card berth.

Sheffield has left the team to be with his family in St. Petersburg, Fla., because his father, Marvin, 50, died Tuesday of throat cancer.

“My heart goes out to him,” said Manager Glenn Hoffman of Sheffield, who injured his ankle in Sunday’s game against the New York Mets. “I lost my dad the same way, and you can’t explain the feelings that hit you when you hear something like that.

“I had no idea that his dad was even sick. Sheff had obviously been keeping a lot of things inside, but he didn’t let anything affect him out there [on the field].

“He gave 100% at the plate and in the field. He did all the little things, moving guys over, hustling in the field. Sheff was the man, and he’s obviously going to be missed, but the important thing is for him to be with his family now. He has all of our prayers.”

Sheffield was among five players acquired from the Florida Marlins in the seven-player Mike Piazza trade May 15. In 90 games with the Dodgers, Sheffield batted .316 with 16 home runs and 57 runs batted in.

He played in 130 games overall, batting .302 with 22 home runs and 85 RBIs. He stole 22 bases, marking the first time he has hit at least 20 homers with 20 stolen bases in his 10-year career.

Sheffield is tied for second in the league with a .428 on-base percentage.

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Team physician Frank Jobe will perform season-ending arthroscopic surgery on the pitching elbow of right-hander Antonio Osuna next week.

“I just want to get this taken care of so I can be ready to help my team [next season],” Osuna said.

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Gary Hughes, the vice-president of player personnel for the Florida Marlins, interviewed with the Dodgers for the general manager position on Tuesday.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ CARLOS PEREZ (7-13, 4.13 ERA) vs. PHILLIES’ TYLER GREEN (6-8, 4.65 ERA)

Site--Dodger Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

TV--Fox Sports West 2.

Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330).

Update--Perez failed to get the decision in a 5-4 loss in 10 innings to the New York Mets on Friday. He pitched 6 2/3 innings and left leading, 4-1. That solid outing helped Perez maintain his spot in the starting rotation. Perez entered that game 0-3 with a 6.35 earned-run average in five starts with the Dodgers since he was acquired from the Montreal Expos on July 31.