Vizcaino Will Bat First if It Helps

With Eric Young taking a game off because of his nagging leg injury, shortstop Jose Vizcaino batted leadoff Wednesday for the first time as a Dodger.

Vizcaino’s last game as a leadoff hitter was April 23, 1997, when he was with San Francisco. He hasn’t batted first regularly since 1994 with the New York Mets.

“He can do it. He’s very patient at the plate,” Manager Bill Russell said.

Young--who led the majors with 26 stolen bases entering Wednesday’s game--expects to return to the lineup Friday against his former team, the Colorado Rockies, after taking advantage of today’s day off that gives him a second day of rest. He left Tuesday’s game because he aggravated the right-quadriceps strain he first suffered while scoring a run last month in Chicago.

Vizcaino, who has had a hot bat lately, entered the game with a .241 average in 647 at-bats as a leadoff hitter, and said he isn’t entirely comfortable batting first.

“I don’t like it, but I’ll do anything to help the team,” said Vizcaino, who went 0 for three Wednesday. “I’m not patient enough as the leadoff hitter.”

Vizcaino has hit three home runs during his career when batting first, with 44 RBIs, 49 walks and 74 runs.

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Young said his injury will linger, but believes he can keep playing with proper rest and treatment.

“I’d rather miss one or two games than miss 15 days on the [disabled list],” he said.

“The only thing for it is real rest. I don’t have time for rest right now.

“Something like this, it would take two, three weeks of not doing anything. I’ve got to be real careful at times. Last night, for instance, it wasn’t right. It tightened up early.”

With 26 stolen bases, he seems to be managing all right.

“If you notice, most of the stolen bases come early in the game, when it’s [the sore leg] feeling good,” said Young, who added he is eager to play Friday against the Rockies.

“I get pumped up, seeing the guys I played with, talking some good smack,” he said. “I don’t mean I want to tear their heads off because they traded me.”

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Paul Konerko, who has two home runs and eight RBIs over the last five games, made his third consecutive start in left field in place of Todd Hollandsworth. “It’s his job to lose,” Russell said. Hollandsworth is scheduled to undergo shoulder surgery today and might be out for the season. The best-case scenario is four to five weeks.

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With Cincinnati shopping Barry Larkin, the Dodgers were mentioned as a team that had been contacted, but Executive Vice President Fred Claire said the Reds haven’t called. “False report,” he said. . . . Reliever Darren Hall, out since April 8 because of a rotator-cuff tear, is close to a rehabilitation assignment if he responds well after pitching a simulated inning for a second consecutive day Wednesday. . . . Infielder Tripp Cromer, who hasn’t played this season because of right-elbow strain, might begin a rehab stint at triple-A Albuquerque as soon as Monday.