Orosco’s visit to LV is all business

Steve Guiremand

Friday, April 27, 2001 | 10:19 a.m.

Forty-four-year-old left-handed reliever Jesse Orosco was in the Las Vegas 51s' locker room before Thursday night's game against Edmonton.

"I came down to do some gambling and see some shows and play some golf," Orosco said with a smile.

He was joking of course.

The all-time major league leader in games (1,096) and relief appearances (1,092) still loves playing baseball. And nothing can be more valuable in a pennant stretch for a team than an experienced left-handed reliever out of the bullpen.

"I just want to keep playing," Orosco, who is expected to be activated before tonight's game, said. "I was with the Dodgers in spring training and things didn't work out. But now I've been given a second opportunity to get back to the Dodgers again and keep playing ball.

"I'm excited about it," Orosco continued. "I'm going to work real hard and have a good time. I'm not putting a time frame on anything. I'm just here to pitch and do the best I can."

The Dodgers can definitely use an experienced lefty in their bullpen. Currently, the only left-handed reliever on the squad is 22-year-old Rule V pickup Jose Nunez, who has struggled badly in his few appearances so far this season.

"The kid has a good arm," Orosco said. "He's young and has a live arm. But to go from Class A ball to the majors is a tremendous jump. I'm not going to root against him or anything. I'm just going to come here and do the best I can and whatever happens, happens."

"God gave him a special ability," Las Vegas manager Rick Sofied said of the 22-year big league veteran. "I don't even know if he thought he'd last this long. But he's taken care of himself and he's stayed healthy. It's an amazing story."

Meanwhile, outfielder Bruce Aven, sidelined since April 8 with a concussion, returned to the lineup as a DH on Thursday night and went 1-for-4.

And infielder Tim Bogar, on an injury rehab assignment from the Dodgers, started at shortstop and went 1-for-3 after sitting out two games with stiffness in his hamstring.