Prokopec Gets the Call, Will Start Saturday Night

Luke Prokopec has a simple goal upon returning to the Dodgers.

“Try to do the same thing I did in that last start,” he said. “Try to put on a good showing, keep the team in the game and whatever happens, happens.”

The right-handed Prokopec, in his second call-up this season from triple-A Las Vegas, reported to Pacific Bell Park on Thursday and will start Saturday night against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium.

With Kevin Brown starting the season on the disabled list, the 23-year-old Prokopec made an emergency start against the San Francisco Giants on April 6. He earned the second victory of his career after giving up one run on four hits while striking out seven and not walking a batter in 7 2/3 innings.

Prokopec was optioned to Las Vegas four days later upon Brown’s activation.

In one start with the Las Vegas 51s, Prokopec gave up three runs and three hits while striking out eight and walking two in six innings. He worked on his changeup in the minor league outing April 12 but hasn’t pitched since.

“The only bad thing that goes with it,” Prokopec said, “with all the moving around, you don’t get to pitch as much.

“But it does keep you fresh.”

Prokopec was called up this time with Andy Ashby going on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Monday, because of a strained right elbow.

In Prokopec’s first call-up, last Sept. 1, he went 1-1 with a 3.00 earned-run average in five appearances, including three starts.

*

The Dodger Stadium press box will be named after Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully during a pregame ceremony Saturday. The date marks the 51st anniversary of Scully’s first broadcast as he called his first game on April 21, 1950, doing the play-by-play for the Brooklyn Dodgers’ game against New York Giants at Ebbets Field.

ON DECK

* Opponent--San Diego Padres, three games.

* Site--Dodger Stadium.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--Fox Sports Net 2 tonight and Saturday, Channel 5 Sunday.

* Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330)

* Records--Dodgers 8-8, Padres 6-9. * Record vs. Padres--1-2.

* Tickets--(323) 224-1448.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

KEVIN BROWN

(1-1, 0.69 ERA)

vs.

PADRES’

BRIAN TOLLBERG

(1-0,3.21 ERA)

* Update--Brown was the winning pitcher Sunday at San Diego but left the game after being hit on the left (non-throwing) elbow by a Rodney Myers pitch while batting. In 11 outings against the Padres, Brown is 7-4 with a 3.59 earned-run average. Tollberg, meanwhile, had no decision in the Padres’ 5-4 victory over the Dodgers on Saturday after giving up three runs on six hits in six innings. Tollberg does not have a decision in two career appearances against the Dodgers.

* Saturday, 7 p.m.--Luke Prokopec (1-0, 1.17 ERA) vs. Kevin Jarvis (0-1, 9.22 ERA).

* Sunday, 1 p.m.--Darren Dreifort (1-1, 4.76 ERA) vs. Bobby Jones (0-2, 3.79 ERA).