Strain Puts Lo Duca on 15-Day Disabled List

Catcher Paul Lo Duca, sidelined because of a strained left oblique muscle, was put on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday and catcher Brian Johnson’s contract was purchased from triple-A Las Vegas to fill the opening on the 25-man roster.

Angel Pena is expected to play more in Lo Duca’s absence, Chad Kreuter will continue to work primarily with right-hander Chan Ho Park and Johnson will be used in the catching rotation and as a right-handed batter off the bench.

The Dodgers signed Johnson, 33, to a minor league contract in December.

Last season, Johnson, who has played parts of seven seasons in the majors, batted .208 with four home runs and 18 runs batted in for the Kansas City Royals. He batted .329 with three homers and 14 RBIs for Las Vegas.

Lo Duca was also slowed recently because of a strained left hamstring, so Manager Jim Tracy and interim General Manager Dave Wallace decided to give him time to recuperate.

“He is very important to us,” Tracy said of Lo Duca, batting .368 with two homers and eight RBIs. “It’s another one of those situations where, before it gets worse, let’s put the fire out.”

Said Lo Duca, who has thrown out four of seven baserunners: “I haven’t had a pulled muscle in my life and I pull two in two weeks. All the hard work I put in to finally get here, to finally get my chance, and now I’m hurt. I guess it’s just another test. Somebody keeps testing me.”

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In his last two starts, right-hander Eric Gagne has pitched nine innings and given up 13 hits and 10 earned runs. Gagne is 1-1 with a 5.56 earned-run average overall, and his slow start might prompt the club to option him to Las Vegas when Andy Ashby (right elbow strain) returns from the disabled list.

“It’s control,” Gagne said of his problems. “I’m not getting ahead in counts, and that makes the batters a lot better. I have to get ahead and pitch my game.”

Rookie right-hander Luke Prokopec has been impressive--2-0 with a 2.61 ERA--and Tracy said the club is committed to having “the best 25-man roster possible.”

“We’re not in a decision-making situation just yet,” Tracy said. “When the time comes, we’ll have to sit down and look at the situation and ask ourselves, from a pitching-staff standpoint, who the best people are at that particular time. We’re not at that bridge yet.”

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Adrian Beltre was one for five in his second extended spring training game at Vero Beach, Fla. The Dodgers hope to activate him May 11.

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Former general manager Kevin Malone, forced to resign April 19, will address the media today in Los Angeles.