BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Butler to Rest More This Year

Brett Butler showed the Dodgers something different Wednesday against the New York Mets, hitting a home run--half his total for last season.

But he said he has something really different planned for the start of the regular season: days off.

“I told them, this year you are going to have to force me to take days off,” said Butler, who missed only one game last season but faded at the end. “I wish they had gotten to me more last year, even though I would have protested.”

The Dodgers survived their biggest scare of the spring Wednesday when backup catcher Carlos Hernandez underwent--and passed--a magnetic resonance imaging test for a swollen left knee.

The X-rays showed no structural damage, and Hernandez hopes to return within a couple of days.

The Dodgers lost to the Mets, 9-8, in 12 innings after third baseman Dave Hansen botched a two-out grounder in the top of the 12th. Hansen had a chance to win the game an inning earlier but struck out against reliever John Franco with two out and a runner on third base. . . . Mike Piazza, who was demoted Tuesday, replaced Hernandez and hit his third homer of the spring. Darryl Strawberry homered and made a leaping catch over the right-field wall. . . . Eric Davis missed his third spring game because of a sore shoulder but said he is simply being cautious and could play if this were the regular season. Dr. Frank Jobe said he can detect no structural damage.