DODGERS NOTEBOOK: OREL'S PEN TIME MIGHT BE SHORT BROWN TENATIVELY SET TO START TUESDAY.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

CINCINNATI - Orel Hershiser was signed to pitch out of the bullpen, and now he's there. For how long, though, is another matter.

Manager Davey Johnson said lefty Carlos Perez will start Sunday's series finale against Cincinnati, right-hander Darren Dreifort will throw Monday in New York and, providing everything goes well with bullpen sessions the next two days, Kevin Brown will return Tuesday in his native Atlanta.

If Brown, on the disabled list with a broken right pinkie, can't pitch Tuesday, Hershiser would make the start.

``To me, it kind of fits having Orel backing up Brownie,'' Johnson said. ``Then I don't have to impact five other guys.''

How long the plan remains in tact is a question, particularly given Perez's fragile existence in the rotation and the waning patience of the organization.

The Dodgers set him up to succeed, which Perez acknowledges. They held him back from starting against Houston earlier in the week and will throw him against a Reds team that left-handed Ken Griffey Jr., Sean Casey and Eddie Taubensee in their lineup.

``I think it was a good idea not to use me against Houston because they don't have enough lefties in the lineup,'' said Perez, who is 1-1 with a 5.65 ERA. ``Cincinnati has a bunch of lefties. That's why I don't complain anymore of `Why are they doing this? Why are they doing that?' Whatever they do to me is not a problem.''

But the consequences of failure could be dire for Perez. He's pitched adequately with a big lead in a win against San Francisco, and settled down to pitch moderately well in relief after Hershiser hit four batters and allowed seven runs in 1 1/3 innings Wednesday against Houston.

There's also the time issue. With five years of service time, a player must accept a minor league assignment. Perez reaches five years May 6.

However, Johnson said he's also looking down the road at having a lefty in the rotation against Arizona and St. Louis during a grueling four-city road trip in May.

``I feel (Perez) is getting enough work to where he can locate better, change speeds better, pitch out front,'' Johnson said. ``And he did that after that first (outing in Montreal).''

Johnson also wanted Dreifort to pitch against the Mets based on past success. Dreifort held them to two hits (though he walked eight) in five innings two weeks ago. Eric Gagne and Chan Ho Park make up the rest of the rotation.

``If I end up the bullpen for a while I don't think it's a surprise because that was the role I was kind of signed to,'' said Hershiser, who's 1-1 with an 8.76 ERA. ``If I end in the rotation, that's not a surprise either because I've done that my whole life.''

The Dodgers want Brown to have his normal outing, and Johnson said he doesn't want his ace pitching in New York, where he was injured. Also, Brown's been successful against the Braves - he's 4-2 with a 2.18 ERA in 10 games.

However, Brown said he's not ready to declare himself back in the rotation until his bullpen sessions are complete.

``(Brown) just wants back out there,'' Johnson said. ``You talk to him long enough and he says, `I don't want to mess up everybody else, either.' But we still don't even know until (Saturday).''

Larkin injured, has surgery: Reds shortstop Barry Larkin had surgery on the middle finger of his left hand after injuring it while diving after Mark Grudzielanek's single in the second inning. Larkin tore a ligament on the finger and is expected to miss two to four weeks. He was placed on the disabled list and Gookie Dawkins was expected to be added to the roster.

Odds and ends: The umpiring crew's equipment was lost on their flight from Toronto to Cincinnati, delaying the start of the game 27 minutes. The Reds had to purchase equipment from a local sporting goods store. ...Left fielder Gary Sheffield's right ankle still hasn't healed, though he continues to play. It swelled during the flight from Los Angeles to Cincinnati, and was still swollen before the game with the Reds.

DODGERS VS. CINCINNATI Time: 10:15 a.m. at Cinergy Field TV/Radio: Channel 5; 1150-AM, KWKW-AM (1330 Spanish)

Matchup: It'll be a big day for the Dodgers even before right-hander Chan Ho Park faces the Reds. Kevin Brown is scheduled to testhis broken right pinkie in the bullpen before the game. As for Park, he's pitched better in each of his three starts, though he lost last time out to the Reds. Park (2-1, 3.79 ERA) allowed two earned runs in seven innings Sunday against Cincinnati. The Reds counter with righty Pete Harnisch (0-1, 7.07), who's been hit hard in three starts. He's allowed 18 hits in 14 innings, and though he's right-handed, he's had much more success against lefties. Left-handers are hitting .207 against him while right-handers are hitting .387.

- Brian Dohn

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Box: Dodgers vs. Cincinatti (see text)