Wallace, Tracy Praised for Calming Influence

The Dodgers are pleased with the performance of interim General Manager Dave Wallace, who has provided stability after the forced resignation of Kevin Malone.

Wallace has worked well with Chairman Bob Daly and the baseball-operations staff, and has formed a strong bond with Manager Jim Tracy.

“We hoped that whoever filled the role of interim general manager would be capable of calming the waters and keeping the distractions away from the field, and Dave has certainly been able to accomplish that,” said Derrick Hall, senior vice president.

“He is communicating well with the [on-field] staff, the front office and players. However, we also must give a lot of credit to Jim Tracy. He has done an outstanding job keeping the focus on the field.”

Wallace said he still plans to return to his former position, overseeing the farm system and tutoring pitchers, once the next general manager is hired.

Many in the organization believe Daly and President Bob Graziano should persuade Wallace to remain in his current post, and although Wallace still maintains he is not interested, he has not dismissed the possibility.

“The only thing I can say for sure is that as long as I’m in this position, I will give 110 percent of my effort to try to do what’s right for the team,” Wallace said. “Beyond that, I don’t know. I really mean it when I say I’m only worried about today.”

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Starter Andy Ashby, on the 15-day disabled list because of a right elbow strain, said he did not experience discomfort after throwing off a mound for 30 minutes and flat surface for 10 minutes.

The right-hander, who did not throw curveballs, plans to throw again today and hopes to pitch in a simulated game this weekend.

“[Team officials] said something about a [rehabilitation assignment], but I think I could get the same thing out of a simulated game,” Ashby said. “I don’t think I’m that far off where I just can’t go out and throw to hitters and be all right.

“As long as I’m pain free, I’m not worried about it. The main thing for me is to go out and throw without it ‘barking.’ ”

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Third baseman Adrian Beltre struck out twice, grounded out and flied out in four at-bats during an extended spring training game at Vero Beach, Fla.

The Dodgers were pleased with the results in the first phase of Beltre’s rehabilitation assignment.

“On the way back [to the Dodgers], we would eventually like him to stop at [triple-A] Las Vegas and play a couple of days there,” Tracy said of Beltre, who underwent abdominal surgery twice in a two-month span. “We’re shooting for [Beltre to be activated] some time during the course of the Atlanta series [May 11-13 at Dodger Stadium] if everything works out according to plan.”

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Pitcher Carlos Perez is 2-1 with a 6.15 earned-run average in his rehabilitation assignment at Las Vegas.

The left-hander can become a free agent if he is not on the 25-man roster by Saturday, and the Dodgers would owe him the remainder of his $7.5-million salary.

“We’re about the best 25 guys we have available,” Tracy said. “If he factors in as one of the best 25, so be it.

“If that’s not the case, I don’t feel that money is going to dictate a decision in this situation. It goes against what we’ve been doing here.”

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Catcher Paul Lo Duca was scratched from the starting lineup because of a strained left oblique muscle, Tracy said.

Lo Duca, sidelined recently because of a strained left hamstring, suffered the injury during batting practice and was listed as day to day.

He last started April 19 against the San Francisco Giants at Pacific Bell Park.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

KEVIN BROWN

(3-1, 1.03 ERA)

vs.

REDS’

PETE HARNISCH

(1-3, 6.04 ERA)

Cinergy Field, 4 PDT.

TV--Fox Sports Net 2.

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

* Update--Brown is 6-1 with a 1.52 ERA against the Reds in his career. The right-hander worked seven strong innings April 26 in a 6-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Dodger Stadium. Harnisch is 7-6 with a 3.70 ERA in 17 games against the Dodgers. The right-hander recently experienced soreness in his pitching forearm.