MINOR LEAGUE NOTEBOOK: EVELAND CLOSING STRONG.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer

Dana Eveland is suggesting he could have a lengthy professional baseball career as a dominating closer.

At least he's off to a good start at rookie Helena (Mont.).

Eveland (Palmdale High/College of the Canyons) was credited with a save in his first six relief appearances. He finally proved human, allowing two runs (though still getting a save) on July 10 before finally stumbling to a loss - two-thirds of an inning, two earned runs, three hits - five days later.

Still, the hard-throwing right-hander has a chance to move quickly through a farm system rich in hitting prospects but lacking quality pitchers. Eveland was the Pioneer League's Rolaids Relief Man Award winner for July and leads the league with 11 saves.

In 20 2/3 innings, he has an overwhelming 35-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio, statistics associated with the most reliable closers.

And Eveland isn't a one-inning wonder when asked to preserve late leads. In seven of his saves he has pitched more than one inning, including a season-high 2 2/3 against Great Falls (Mont.). And he'll probably get more chances as he progresses in the organization. It wouldn't be a surprise to see him in the low-Single-A Midwest League in 2004.

``He likes that role,'' said Helena teammate Kenny Durost, who pitched in high school at Eveland's rival Highland. ``He likes to challenge the hitters, and he has a great slider; I think he has a good future as a closer.''

--Finally: After losses in six consecutive starts, Single-A Bakersfield pitcher Chris Seddon (Canyon) returned to the winner's column Thursday. Seddon dominated in a game at Inland Empire, allowing two hits, an unearned run with no walks and seven strikeouts in six innings. He is 8-11 with a 4.66 ERA in 23 starts.

Bakersfield teammate Jamie Shields (Hart) had suffered through a winless drought of his own. Shields dropped to 7-12 after losing his third consecutive start Aug. 12. Shields beat High Desert on Sunday, striking out eight in six innings. But it wasn't pretty; his ERA went up to 4.37 when he allowed six earned runs.

--Odds and ends: Pitcher Bobby Graves (Hart/CSUN) has pitched far better than his 5-10 record indicates. The independent Florence (Ohio) left-hander has a 3.86 ERA and opposing batters are hitting just .241 against him. Graves has pitched at least five innings in 16 of 17 starts. ...

Minnesota Twins' Gulf Coast League rookie club pitcher Joe Gault (Canyon) has pitched exclusively in relief, getting two wins and a save in 12 appearances. In his most recent outing, on Aug. 11, Gault faced three hitters, getting one out with a walk and a hit. ...

Matt Harrington (Palmdale) hasn't served a set role with independent Fort Worth (Texas), but he's pitched respectably in relief while he mulls over signing with the fourth big-league organization (Cincinnati) to draft him in as many years.

Harrington is 0-3 with a 5.89 ERA in five starts. But when used out of the bullpen, he is 2-3 with a 2.86 ERA, two saves and 51 strikeouts in 50 1/3 innings. ...

Triple-A Sacramento pitcher Erik Hiljus (Canyon) has the River Cats' only complete game this season, a three-hit shutout of Fresno on July 18. Overall, Hiljus is a solid 10-8 with a 4.86 ERA in 26 starts, but the emergence of rookie Rich Harden in Oakland's rotation has limited Hiljus' opportunities for a return to the A's. He does have enough major-league experience to warrant a September promotion when rosters are expanded. ...

The independent Richmond (Ind.) Roosters released pitcher Chad Spencer (Quartz Hill/The Master's College).

Chris Cocoles, [phone]

chris.cocoles(at)dailynews.com