Evans Is Looking for Relievers

The Dodgers have widened their search for relief help, adding Cleveland right-hander Paul Shuey, Florida right-hander Braden Looper and Milwaukee right-hander Luis Vizcaino to the list of pitchers they are targeting in trade talks.

The Dodger bullpen has given up 11 earned runs in 11 2/3 innings of the last four games, heightening the need for another quality arm to give closer Eric Gagne and set-up man Paul Quantrill help in the latter innings of close games.

General Manager Dan Evans has been discussing possible deals for Toronto right-hander Kelvim Escobar, Pittsburgh left-hander Scott Sauerbeck, Cleveland left-hander Ricardo Rincon and Tampa Bay right-hander Esteban Yan, but several quality relievers became available in the last two days, causing Evans to shift gears a bit.

Shuey, 31, probably has the best stuff of the bunch, a 95-mph fastball, a nasty split-fingered fastball and an excellent curve. He is 3-0 with a 2.41 earned-run average in 39 games, but he’s notorious for following two or three great outings with a bad one.

Shuey is in the second year of a four-year, $11.2-million contract and has a no-trade clause for this season, but he’s not happy about the direction the salary-dumping Indians are going and would probably welcome a trade.

Vizcaino, 25, is 5-1 with a 2.78 ERA and two saves in 51 games and has limited right-handed hitters to a .179 average. Looper, 28, is 0-3 with a 3.54 ERA in 48 games.

*

The Dodgers traded reserve outfielder Hiram Bocachica to the Detroit Tigers on Thursday for minor league pitcher Tom Farmer and a player to be named, a move designed to clear a spot on the 25-man roster for Tyler Houston.

The Dodgers planned to designate Bocachica for assignment to make room for Houston, the utility player who was acquired Tuesday from the Milwaukee Brewers and will join the team today.

But instead of possibly losing Bocachica to a waiver claim and getting nothing in return, Evans was able to work a deal with the Tigers, who like Bocachica’s speed, power potential and versatility.

Bocachica, 26, hit .215 with four homers and nine runs batted in, and his playing time--65 at-bats in 49 games--was scarce, which made him expendable. Farmer, 22, was 6-8 with a 4.92 ERA in 16 starts for double-A Erie (Pa.). The right-hander was recently promoted to triple-A Toledo, where he made one start.

*

ON DECK

Opponent--San Francisco Giants, three games.

Site--Pacific Bell Park, San Francisco.

Tonight--7:30.

TV--Channel 13 tonight and Sunday; Channel 11 Saturday.

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

Records--Dodgers 57-45, Giants 57-45.

Record vs. Giants--3-6.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

HIDEO NOMO

(9-6, 3.16 ERA)

vs.

GIANTS’

RUSS ORTIZ

(7-6, 3.71 ERA)

Update--Giant slugger Barry Bonds, who strained his right hamstring trying to catch an Eric Karros drive to the gap in left-center field in Dodger Stadium last Friday night, has not played since, save for one pinch-hitting appearance. Bonds will likely sit out this series.

Saturday, 1 p.m.--Omar Daal (7-5, 4.15) vs. Livan Hernandez (7-10, 4.48).

Sunday, 1 p.m.--Andy Ashby (7-8, 3.99) vs. Jason Schmidt (5-5, 3.72).