Elbow Injury Sidelines Ashby

A day after saying that Andy Ashby’s ailing right elbow was healing sufficiently, the Dodgers announced Wednesday that they will put Ashby on the 15-day disabled list today, retroactive to Monday, because of a strained muscle in his right (throwing) elbow. Right-hander Luke Prokopec will be recalled from triple-A Las Vegas and join the Dodgers in San Francisco today before starting Saturday at Dodger Stadium against the San Diego Padres.

Ashby, who last pitched on April 12, originally had a start bumped back two days after experiencing discomfort in the arm.

“The situation with his elbow is such that we feel he needs more time,” Dodger Manager Jim Tracy said. “He played catch [Tuesday] and he felt great. He came in [Wednesday] and had some inflammation in the area and we just feel at this particular time, and our medical people feel, that he needs more time.”

Ashby, 33, who signed a three-year, $22.5-million free agent contract with the Dodgers on Dec. 6, served as a pinch-runner Sunday, hence the disabled list being retroactive to Monday.

He is 2-0 with a 3.86 earned-run average.

*

Terry Adams is anything but misty over being part of history Tuesday night after giving up Barry Bonds’ 500th home run.

Adams, after all, had a front-row seat for the epic Mark McGwire-Sammy Sosa homer derby in 1998 as a member of the Chicago Cubs.

Plus, Adams was peeved about the on-field ceremony immediately after Bonds’ eighth-inning, game-winning blast. It delayed the game nine minutes while the Dodgers stood around in the cold.

“After McGwire hit No. 62, he went over and saw the [Roger Maris] family and just kind of tipped his hat. They waited until the game was over to have a big presentation,” Adams said. “Same thing with Sosa when he hit his, he just tipped his hat to the crowd.”

Tuesday night, however, play was stopped as Bonds addressed the record crowd and was joined on the field by his parents and brother and the two living Giants in the 500-home run club--Willie Mays and Willie McCovey.

“I know it’s history but it was kind of inappropriate at that time,” Adams said. “If it was a big margin, like we were way ahead or they were way ahead, maybe. It was just bad timing. It kind of rubbed some people the wrong way.

“They kind of acted like the game was over. I had to get my focus back and get three outs.”

Bonds’ blast on a 2-and-0 slider came with none out and was the difference in the Giants’ 3-2 victory.

“The only thing I’ll remember is losing the ballgame,” Adams said. “Nothing but negative feelings.”

*

Carlos Perez improved his record at triple-A Las Vegas to 1-1 Wednesday in a 6-0 victory over the Iowa Cubs. The left-hander gave up five hits in six innings while striking out six and walking one.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

ERIC GAGNE

(0-1, 5.29 ERA)

vs.

GIANTS’

KIRK RUETER

(2-0, 5.51 ERA)

Pacific Bell Park, 7:30

TV--Channel 5. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330)

* Update--The last time Gagne and Rueter hooked up, on April 8, Gagne took the loss after giving up six runs in six innings of an 8-3 Dodger loss.