Closer Foster brought up from double-A

Steve Guiremand

Friday, May 18, 2001 | 9:52 a.m.

With a team ERA that ranks at the bottom of the Pacific Coast League, the Las Vegas 51s can obviously use a little help in the pitching department.

So one might expect the club to roll out the red carpet when hard-throwing reliever Kris Foster arrives at Cashman Field for tonight's game against the Fresno Grizzlies.

The 26-year-old Foster, who will share closing duties with Jim Dougherty, was promoted by the Dodgers from their double-A Jacksonville squad, where he was simply overpowering Southern League foes.

Foster had a 3-0 record with seven saves and a sparkling 1.00 ERA in 17 games with the Suns. In 18 innings, he allowed just six hits and two walks while striking out an eye-popping 29 batters.

"He's a big, strong right-hander who throws very hard," Las Vegas manager Rick Sofield said. "He's been a prospect in this organization for a long time. He's always had tremendous arm strength. He appears to have grown into his body. I haven't seen him in a while. We'll sure as heck see him soon."

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Foster was originally drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 39th round of the 1992 June draft and was later traded to the Dodgers in 1995 for Rafael Bournigal. He was rated the Dodgers' No. 10 prospect by Baseball America in 1999, but was sidelined for most of 2000 by arm problems.

LoDuca, who has been sidelined since April 19 with left hamstring and left oblique strains, is expected to get three at-bats in tonight's game against Fresno. He is also slated to play for the 51s on Saturday and Sunday and then be activated by the Dodgers on Monday at Colorado.

"He still has to take his physical," Sofield said of the 30-year-old Cotton, who was released by Nashville last week after hitting just .200 for the Sounds.

Cotton passed his first test with the 51s with flying colors. In the sixth inning, Cotton pinch-hit for Las Vegas starter Jeff Williams and hit a long home run to right field.