DODGERS NOTEBOOK: IN A PINCH, THEY COULD USE HELP.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Eddie Oropesa might warm up in the bullpen late in a close-game situation in the next few days. He could be a weapon to neutralize Dodgers left-handed pinch hitter Dave Hansen.

With the lineup the Dodgers fielded in Friday's opener against the Phillies - the same lineup they've had most nights with Marquis Grissom in center field, Paul Lo Duca catching and Eric Karros at first base - there is no viable right-handed power option on the bench.

``If I were sitting over there in that other dugout I'd do the same damn thing,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. ``They're looking at the same lineup card that I am, and they burn (Hansen). So they're going to take their chances with the right-handed bats we have available. We are exploring and thinking about that situation because, to me, that's something in my mind, we could really utilize on this club.''

Currently, the right-handed pinch hitters available on most nights are Jeff Reboulet and Hiram Bocachica, and switch-hitter Chad Kreuter. But they're a combined 9 for 47 in a pinch, and Kreuter has not had a pinch-hit at-bat from the right side this season. He also has not had a hit since July 20, spanning 14 at-bats, and is 2 for 27 since July 1. Bocachica, a rookie, is 3 for 30 as a pinch hitter.

It leaves the Dodgers searching waiver wires, hoping to find a bench player. If nothing else breaks, they might be forced to recall outfielder Bruce Aven.

Aven is batting .264 with seven homers, 16 doubles and 30 RBI with Triple-A Las Vegas. He was 2 for 4 with a double in four games with the Dodgers last month. However, Aven does have some power. In 572 major-league at-bats, he has 19 homers.

``Bruce Aven came up and did a good job and was getting some at-bats down there, and we were happy with the way he performed when he was here so that's a guy in your system that you have to look at as we come down the line here,'' Dodgers interim general manager Dave Wallace said. ``But again, it's the same old approach. You continue to see what's out there.''

--Center field talk: Tracy said center fielder Tom Goodwin, activated from the disabled list Thursday, would be in the lineup at least once during the three-game series with the Phillies. However, Sunday might be the only day. Neither Grissom nor Goodwin had faced Friday's right-hander starter Nelson Figueroa, but the right-handed-batting Grissom started.

Tracy also likes matchups, and Grissom is 5 for 15 (.333) in his career off today's starter Robert Person. Goodwin is 2 for 8 (.250). Neither has faced Sunday's starter, right-hander Brandon Duckworth.

Tracy said he would mix Goodwin and Grissom in center field, and McKay Christensen would be the fifth outfielder for the time being.

--Odds and ends: Kreuter injured his left thumb late in Thursday's game at Pittsburgh but said he was fine and could pinch hit if needed. He also said he could catch Chan Ho Park on Tuesday. ... A late-afternoon thunderstorm dropped temperatures from the mid 90s to 77 degrees at game time. ... Grissom pushed his average to .306 on May 29 but is batting .188 (31 for 165) since.

DODGERS vs. PHILADELPHIA

Time: 1:05 p.m., at Veterans Stadium.

TV/Radio: Ch. 11; 1150-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: The Dodgers' best starting pitcher the last six weeks has been right-hander Eric Gagne (4-4, 4.78 ERA), who is looking for a career-high fourth consecutive win. In his last six starts, he is 3-0 with a 2.85 ERA. It will be Gagne's first career start against the Phillies. Right-hander Robert Person (9-6, 4.89) had a 10-start unbeaten streak end with his loss Sunday to the Giants, when he allowed six earned runs in 3 2/3 innings. Person is 7-2 with a 4.89 ERA in 10 starts at home.

-Brian Dohn

CAPTION(S):

box

Box:

DODGERS vs. PHILADELPHIA (see text)