Brown Sees His Bad Break as Good One for the Team

Kevin Brown started last season’s Dodger Stadium opener, making his regular-season debut against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The right-hander was pleased about an 8-1 victory Friday against the Cincinnati Reds but wishes he could have been more involved in the fun.

“It’s very frustrating,” said Brown, on the disabled list because of a broken pinky finger on his pitching hand. “It’s hard enough when you’re healthy, and you have to wait every five days to get back out there to try to help, so it’s definitely not a fun situation when you’re hurt and can’t play at all.

“You accept that you just have to wait, there’s not much you can do about it, but it doesn’t make it easier. When you know you have a job to do, you want to do it.”

Brown was put on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday (retroactive to Sunday). He is eligible to be reinstated April 24.

His finger has been immobilized in a splint, which Brown removes to throw to maintain his forearm strength.

“All I can really do right now is try to get the swelling out of it, and just let it heal,” he said. “Injuries happen, they’re just a part of the game, and it’s rare that any team gets through the season injury free.

“This could be an opportunity for some other guys to step up, which will only help the team in the long run. It can really pick a team up when someone goes down, and other guys fill the void. You just wish you could do something to still help.”

*

Carlos Perez received another reprieve. The Dodgers optioned second-year reliever Onan Masaoka to triple-A Albuquerque to open a roster spot for rookie right-hander Eric Gagne.

Perez remains on the club, and in the rotation, after his six-inning outing in Thursday’s 11-7 victory over the San Francisco Giants. He also regained a spot on the team after Brown was injured.

Gagne is scheduled to start today against the Reds. Masaoka will start for the Dukes after getting pounded in five appearances.

The left-hander has a 7.50 earned-run average. He has given up two home runs in only six innings.

Perez gave up six hits and three runs against the Giants after the Dodgers staked him to a 6-0 lead in the first Thursday. He said he’s confident again.

“That was the only thing I needed,” said Perez, 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA. “I said all the time that if I get one good [start], everything will feel good again for me.

“You just watch, my next start is going to be better because I’m more comfortable now. And then my next start is going to be better than that.”

Believing he would be optioned to Albuquerque, Perez criticized the club in San Francisco. After two conversations with General Manager Kevin Malone, Perez said he acted irresponsibly.

“Sometimes, you just have a bad day,” he said. “Sometimes things don’t go right and you get [frustrated] that way.”

With Masaoka’s departure, rookie Jeff Williams is the only left-hander in the bullpen.

He struggled in his season debut Thursday, being removed after facing only four batters in the sixth inning of a 6-5, rain-postponed victory. Williams walked two and gave up a hit.

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Dodger Chairman Bob Daly, formerly the Warner Bros. studio boss, played host to many of Hollywood’s elite in his suite.

Actors Tom Cruise, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, and director Steven Spielberg were among Daly’s guests at the opener.

Also, Daly provided a suite for former owner Peter O’Malley and his family to attend the game.

“There were 30 people in and out of my suite, it was like a revolving door,” Daly said. “And they all stayed to the end. They loved it. It was a perfect day.”

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The Dodgers said they have sold about 80% of the suites and dugout seats.

“We’ve got a few suites and dugout seats to sell, but we’re not worried about it,” President Bob Graziano said. “Everything really turned out great, and once people continue to come out and see the stadium, we don’t think we’ll have a problem [selling the remainder].”

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

ERIC GAGNE

(1-1, 2.10 ERA in 1999)

vs.

REDS’

DENNY NEAGLE

(0-0, 5.40 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 5 p.m.

TV--Fox Sports Net 2. Radio--KXTA (1150),

KWKW (1330).

* Update--It didn’t take Gagne long to rejoin the club. He was expected to make the opening-day roster, but went 0-2 with a 15.63 earned-run average in spring training. Gagne, 24, pitched six scoreless innings April 8 for triple-A Albuquerque. Neagle has been slowed by shoulder soreness.

* Tickets--(323) 224-1HIT.