Russell Returns as O’Malley’s Guest

Bill Russell accepted an invitation from Chairman of the Board Peter O’Malley on Wednesday and returned to Dodger Stadium for the first time since Russell was fired as Dodger manager on June 21.

Russell and his wife, Susan, sat with O’Malley in the former owner’s box and watched the Dodgers play the San Francisco Giants.

“Peter invited me and my wife to come out and enjoy a ballgame,” Russell said. “This has been a part of my life for 32 years, and we decided to come out and enjoy ourselves. And what better way than to come out and watch the Dodgers play the Giants.”

Russell didn’t go into the Dodger clubhouse before the game, but said he stopped in to greet the umpires.

“It wasn’t hard,” Russell said of his return. “Maybe a lot of other people might’ve had a problem with it. But I’ve been following the team, and we just wanted to come. And the other thing is my wife has been wanting to come, also.”

Russell said he was treated warmly by Dodger fans as he walked through the stadium.

“It was good because the fans greeted me and wished me good luck and success,” Russell said.

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Going into Wednesday’s game, the Dodger bullpen had given up five earned runs in 18 2/3 innings (a 2.42 earned-run average) in the first six games since the arrival of closer Jeff Shaw.

Shaw has pitched in two games, retiring all six batters he has faced and recording a save.

Also, say the Dodger coaches, his addition has given the team much more flexibility in the seventh and eighth innings with their other late-game relievers--Antonio Osuna and Scott Radinsky.

“It gives us a little bit of depth of experience in the last three innings of the game,” pitching coach Charlie Hough said. “We’ve got three guys who are capable of saving games. And I’ve got confidence in them all.

“I feel pretty confident that we can put up three zeros at the end of the game, no matter what combination of guys it is.”

Said Manager Glenn Hoffman: “It backs everybody up, and now I’ve got three guys who can go an inning for me. It frees up the moves I can make in the seventh, eighth and ninth with those guys.

“Like Radinsky’s thrown three days in a row, so he’s probably down today. But I’ve still got Osuna, and [Mark] Guthrie as a left-hander, and Shaw, of course.”

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With starting shortstop Jose Vizcaino recuperating from an ankle sprain, Juan Castro has stepped in to produce consistent defense--and several spectacular, highlight-reel plays.

“Most teams lose their shortstop and it’s a disaster,” Hoffman said. “If we can hold our ground with him picking it like that, it’s great. I appreciate guys in the middle. I know what it’s like. That just builds confidence in the pitching staff.”

ON DECK

* Opponent--St. Louis Cardinals, four games.

* Site--Busch Stadium, St. Louis.

* Tonight--5 PDT.

* TV--Channel 5 Friday, Channel 11 Saturday, ESPN Sunday.

* Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330).

* Records--Dodgers 47-47, Cardinals 43-50.

* Record vs. Cardinals--2-3.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ ISMAEL VALDES (6-9, 4.21 ERA) vs. CARDINALS’ KENT MERCKER (5-6, 5.83 ERA)

* Update--The Cardinals have been one of the NL’s biggest disappointments, but not at home, where they are 26-19, including a two-game sweep of the Dodgers to open the season. The Dodgers took two of three from St. Louis at Dodger Stadium in early June, but the Cardinals were without Mark McGwire, who sat out the series because of a slight back injury. The Dodgers are 22-28 on the road.

* Friday, 5 PDT--Brian Bohanon (2-5, 3.55) vs. Juan Acevedo (4-2, 3.56).

* Saturday, 1--Dave Mlicki (5-4, 4.60) vs. Kent Bottenfield (2-5, 4.95).

* Sunday, 5--Chan Ho Park (8-5, 4.32) vs. Todd Stottlemyre (9-8, 3.29).