After successful start in big leagues, hard-throwing Prokopec joins 51s

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, April 11, 2001 | 10:30 a.m.

Sputtering out of the gate with a 1-5 record and five-game losing streak, the Las Vegas 51s can definitely use a spark.

And that spark may have arrived about 30 minutes before Tuesday night's latest loss, a 7-3 setback to the Portland Beavers before an announced crowd of 2,268 at chilly Cashman Field.

Pitcher Luke Prokopec, rated the No. 1 prospect in the Dodgers' organization by ESPN.com, reported to the 51s after being sent down by Los Angeles earlier in the day.

How good is the 5-11, 166-pound right-hander from Blackwood, South Australia?

Making a spot start for the Dodgers against the San Francisco Giants last Friday night, all Prokopec did was allow four hits and one earned run in 7 2/3 innings of a 10-1 victory. He received a standing ovation from the Dodger Stadium crowd when he left the game.

"I had a good start, but (the Dodgers) told me beforehand that no matter how well I did, I still was going to come down here once Brownie was healthy," he said.

Brownie is All-Star right-hander Kevin Brown, who started the season on the disabled list with a strained Achilles' tendon. Brown was activated on Tuesday and Prokopec was on the first flight to Las Vegas.

"Hey, getting one start in the big leagues is better than getting kicked in the teeth," Prokopec said with a smile. "It was great to get out there and pitch in front of a really big crowd like that. And then to do well and come off the mound and get a standing ovation from 40,000 people ... it's something I won't forget."

Prokopec, who struck out Barry Bonds two of the three times he faced him, had his fastball clocked as high as 96 mph in that game.

"It was just one of those nights," he said. "I spotted the fastball where I wanted it to go and I had good velocity. I probably threw about 80 percent fastballs in that game."

51s manager Rick Sofield was unsure when Prokopec, who threw briefly in the bullpen in the eighth inning, would make his first Las Vegas start.

"It could be (tonight) or Thursday," he said. "We're still trying to figure that out."

Former Las Vegas Star Stan Spencer picked up the victory for the Beavers, allowing seven hits and two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings.

51s starter Carlos Perez (0-1), making his second rehab start, allowed eight hits and six runs in five innings.

"That was a bad pitch," Perez said of Riggs' slam. "I was trying to get inside. That's the first grand slam I've allowed in my career. I guess someday it's going to happen."

Perez, who was on an 80-pitch limit, also doubled and scored on shortstop Shawn Gilbert's two-run homer in the fifth.