Myrow has bat, will travel

The distance between In-N-Out Burger and an eatery in Korea isn't as far as one might think, just as the gap between Triple-A baseball and the big leagues isn't as close as a prospect might expect.

Brian Myrow, who was named the 51s' Most Valuable Player in 2005, found out both of those things the hard way last season, when he toiled for the Lotte Giants of the Korean Professional Baseball League after finishing the previous year with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"That's just the way the ball falls. It happens a lot in this game," said Myrow, who made a triumphant return to Cashman Field on Friday night when he belted a grand slam for the Portland Beavers in their 7-6 win over Las Vegas.

On Saturday, Myrow had a single during the Beavers' four-run rally in the seventh inning against the 51s' bullpen. Las Vegas starter William Juarez had limited Portland to no hits and two walks with 10 strikeouts in six innings. The 51s held on to win, 7-4, after leading 6-0 through six innings.

"Guys do well (in Triple A)," Myrow said, "but there's a ceiling right above us, and those guys in the big leagues aren't going anywhere. If they're established, it's hard to get in."

Myrow, a left-handed hitting first baseman/outfielder, hit .282 with 22 homers and 73 RBIs for the 51s in 2005, then appeared in 19 games with the Dodgers, batting .200 -- 4-for-20 -- as a pinch hitter.

"They were kind of talking about me getting a good look the next year as the second lefty off the bench, but then they just fired everybody and cleaned house," Myrow said.

With his future with the Dodgers in doubt, Myrow decided to take the job in Korea, where each team is allowed two foreign players and the food is a lot different from the fare in the United States.

"I lost weight eating their food. It's all natural," he said.

Despite being among the league leaders with 12 home runs, Myrow, batting about .230, was released in August.

He finished last season playing for the Boston Red Sox's Double-A team in Portland, Maine, where he hit .270 in 20 games and regained the weight he had lost overseas.

Myrow, 30, then signed with San Diego, where he missed most of spring training with a calf injury and has struggled at the plate, batting .220 -- 11-for-50 -- in 24 games.

But Myrow, who hit .359 in 50 games for Las Vegas in 2004, remains confident he can give a big league club a solid left-handed bat off the bench.

"I hope to play well enough to be in (the Padres') thoughts whenever they need somebody," he said.

* NOTES -- 51s infielder Mitch Jones has reached base in 10 straight plate appearances after going 3-for-3 with two walks for the second straight game Saturday. ...

The Dodgers traded Las Vegas infielder Tomas Perez to the Chicago White Sox for a pitcher to be named from Triple-A Charlotte. Perez hit .227 in 36 games for the 51s. ...

Wilson Valdez, who hit .297 and was named the 51s' MVP last year, rejoined Las Vegas after being designated for assignment by the Dodgers and clearing waivers.