DODGERS NOTEBOOK: VIZCAINO PUT ON DL.

Byline: Brian Dohn Daily News Staff Writer

Dodgers utility infielder Jose Vizcaino figures he overdid his side work Tuesday, taking too many grounders for his ailing left hamstring to endure.

Now, instead of missing a few days, Vizcaino will miss a couple of weeks after being placed on the disabled list Wednesday (retroactive to Monday) before the Dodgers and Houston Astros played at Dodger Stadium.

Vizcaino was listed as day-to-day after injuring his leg running from third to home in Sunday's loss at St. Louis. He arrived at the ballpark Wednesday and was unable to run.

``When I came to the stadium and I tried to jog, it was sore,'' said Vizcaino, who's batting .278 with eight RBI in 26 games. ``It's frustrating because I was playing. Especially (Tuesday), because Eric (Young) was hurt. If I was fine, I would be playing, and (Wednesday) he's not 100 percent and I would be playing.''

It takes away some of the Dodgers' infield depth. Manager Davey Johnson likes Vizcaino's versatility, using him at second, shortstop and third base.

To fill Vizcaino's spot, the Dodgers dipped into the Toronto Blue Jays farm system and obtained right-handed reliever Doug Bochtler, another indication the Dodgers are searching for right-handed answers in their bullpen.

Bochtler was released by the Dodgers during spring training but was re-acquired for cash considerations. Asked where the Dodgers found Bochtler, Johnson seemingly summed up the season's bullpen blues by saying, `` I don't know. Has he left?''

In reality, Bochtler, 28, spent the past seven weeks pitching for the Blue Jays' Triple-A affiliate in Syracuse. He went 4-0 with a 2.63 ERA in 14 appearances with Syracuse. He pitched for three seasons in San Diego and spent last year with Detroit. He's 9-16 with a 4.45 ERA in four major-league seasons.

``He's a guy that would be an innings guy,'' Johnson said. ``With the (Antonio) Osuna (injury), we thought if he was available we'd get him back.''

Young, White return: For the first time in eight games the Dodgers' lineup looked normal. Center fielder Devon White, bothered by a strained hamstring, played for the first time since May 9. He batted seventh.

Young, the energetic leadoff hitter for the Dodgers, missed Tuesday's series opener with Houston after being spiked during the weekend series in St. Louis.

Johnson said White was ready Tuesday but decided to give him an extra day off. Meanwhile, Johnson waited until Young took some ground balls at second base prior to Wednesday's batting practice before filling out his lineup card.

``I want to get my game back out there,'' said Young, who missed four games earlier in the month with a strained right calf. ``I have to go out and get back on track. (If) I'm out there, I'm going to run. (The ankle) will let me know how much I can do right now.''

Johnson backs Perez: Even though Johnson yanked left-hander Carlos Perez after 3-1/3 innings Tuesday - a common early exit during a Perez start this season - Johnson said he remains committed to him.

``As far as Perez is concerned,'' Johnson said, ``I'm going to stay with him.''

It's not as though Johnson has many options. None of the starters at the minor-league level appears ready and only reliever Jamie Arnold is suited to making a spot start out of the Dodgers' bullpen.

Perez, who signed a three-year, $15 million contract in the offseason, is 1-5 with a 6.63 ERA and has been pulled before the fifth inning of three starts.

DODGERS vs. HOUSTON

Time: 7:10 p.m., at Dodger Stadium.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports West 2; KXTA-AM (1150), KAVL-AM (610), KWKW-AM (1330 Spanish).

Matchup: Dodgers right-hander Chan Ho Park (3-3, 5.32 ERA) will face Astros lefty Mike Hampton (5-1, 2.80) in the finale of a three-game series. It's Park's first outing since he gave up five runs on seven hits against St. Louis, after which manager Davey Johnson expressed disappointment in Park's decision to go away from his fastball. ``He's more analytical than I think I am. He puts me to shame,'' Johnson said. Park thought he had the bugs worked out after seven shutout innings against Montreal on May 3, but he's allowed nine runs in his past 12-1/3 innings. Hampton is 4-0 with a 1.16 ERA in his past four starts, with 24 strikeouts in 31 innings. He's won five in a row, including a five-hit shutout of Pittsburgh in his last outing.

- Brian Dohn

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BOX: DODGERS vs. HOUSTON (see text)