BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Lasorda Says His Was Silent Ejection

Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda, who was ejected for the second time this season, claimed that he never said a word to umpire Ed Rapuano after leaving the field, but was ejected anyway.

After arguing that Braves’ catcher Greg Olson trapped a foul-tip third strike by Eddie Murray, Lasorda returned to the dugout. When he got back to the dugout, Lasorda was ejected by Rapuano.

“I never said a word to him (Rapuano) from the dugout,” Lasorda said. “I thought the ball hit the ground (before Olson) caught it and I wanted him to ask the first base umpire. But he wouldn’t ask.

“And then he throws me out and I never said a word to him from the dugout.”

Dodger relief pitcher Jay Howell, sidelined with a strained ligament in his right elbow, threw off the mound for 15 minutes before Saturday night’s game and hopes he’ll be able to come off the disabled list soon.

“I’m going to throw during the (All-Star) break and I hope to really cut it loose the first game back in Montreal and we’ll make an assessment after that,” Howell said. “It’s doing much better and really responding. I’ve been really encouraged the last few days.”

This is the 10th time the Dodgers have been in first place at the All-Star break since 1958. They have advanced to postseason play six of those 10 times.

Brett Butler’s 21-game hitting streak is the longest by a Dodger since John Shelby hit in 24 consecutive games in 1988. Willie Davis holds the L.A. Dodger record with a 31-game hitting streak in 1969. Butler has five hits in his past seven at-bats and reached base in seven of his past nine trips to the plate. . . . Strawberry had two hits to extend his hitting streak to five games, tying a season-high.