Proctor eager to provide Dodgers relief

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Scott Proctor has been the definition of durable the past two seasons, appearing in 166 games, the second most in baseball behind Washington's Jon Rauch (173).

But the big workload finally caught up with Proctor this year. The right-hander has been sidelined with tendinitis in his pitching elbow since June 21 -- although he said it had actually bothered him since the end of spring training.

"I was trying to change my delivery and was throwing a whole lot. I probably threw too much," the 31-year-old said.

Proctor, 1-0 with a 6.82 ERA in 33 games this year for Los Angeles, tossed a scoreless inning for the 51s on Tuesday -- allowing a hit with a strikeout and no walks -- to start his rehabilitation assignment.

"I felt good. My command wasn't where I wanted it to be, but you can't expect a whole lot when you've had two months off," said Proctor, who has topped 100 mph in the past and hit 97 mph on the radar gun Tuesday. "My velocity was fine, and the results were good."

Equally important was the fact Proctor "felt real good" when he woke up Wednesday.

"It's good soreness, soreness in good areas," said Proctor, who is scheduled to throw two innings tonight at Cashman Field.

If all goes well, he'll leave Las Vegas after the game to rejoin the Dodgers.

"I just want to be able to go back and help the team in whatever fashion I can. Hopefully I'll come up in key situations and get key outs for them," he said. "This is the first time I've ever been on the (disabled list) in the big leagues, and I'm absolutely miserable. I don't know how guys can do it, especially when you're in a playoff hunt and not able to help."

With closer Takashi Saito out with an injury, the Dodgers desperately need a healthy Proctor -- who went 3-0 with a 3.38 ERA in 31 games last year for Los Angeles, which acquired him from the New York Yankees at the trade deadline for infielder Wilson Betemit.

"Scott's a very important part of the bullpen right now. We need all the help we can get with Saito being out," Las Vegas manager Lorenzo Bundy said. "Any experienced arm that we have up there, a quality arm, is going to be important."

While Proctor has regained much of his velocity, he said he's more concerned about locating his pitches tonight.

"You can throw as hard as you want, but if you don't hit your spots it doesn't matter," he said. "These guys can turn anything around.

"I've got to have location. If that happens (tonight), we're good."

• NOTE -- Dodgers right-hander Jason Schmidt is scheduled to start tonight for the 51s but is expected to throw only one inning as he continues his comeback from career-threatening shoulder surgery.