51s’ roster is shuffled after win at Memphis

Wednesday, June 13, 2001 | 10:08 a.m.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The theme for the Las Vegas 51s as they open a four-game series here tonight against the Nashville Sounds is "change."

Behind the hitting of shortstop Keith Johnson and red-hot right fielder Brent Cookson, the 51s snapped their five-game losing streak with a 10-3 victory over Memphis Tuesday.

But when Las Vegas boarded its bus for the trip to Nashville this morning, there were a few familiar faces missing.

Starting second baseman Jeff Branson, despite hitting .215 with no home runs and 10 RBIs in 163 at-bats, was called up by the Dodgers to help fill the middle infield void created by injuries to second baseman Mark Grudzielanek (badly sprained ankle) and utilityman Jeff Reboulet (strained left hamstring).

And starting pitcher Jeff Williams was also recalled by the Dodgers after the news that starter Andy Ashby will miss the rest of the season with a torn muscle in his pitching elbow and that ace Kevin Brown (neck) could be sidelined longer than expected.

The good news for the 51s is that the Dodgers made the long-awaited move of optioning right-handed starter Eric Gagne to Las Vegas. Gagne has struggled this season, going just 1-3 with a 6.05 ERA in eight starts before being demoted to the bullpen.

Left-hander Matt Whisenant will start tonight's opener here against lefty Scott Karl.