BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Slumping Strawberry: I Feel Fine
Darryl Strawberry, mired in a slump that is beginning to resemble last season’s first-month disaster, said Wednesday there is nothing wrong with him.
“I feel fine. I just haven’t got it going yet . . . but I will,” said Strawberry, who has only three singles in his last 19 at-bats. “I’m not worried about it. Before this month is over, I’ll pick it up.”
He is batting .212 after a two-for-11 series in Houston against the Astros, whom he victimized for 10 of his 28 home runs last year.
Last season, during Strawberry’s first trip to the Astrodome, he went three for 12 with three home runs and five runs batted in.
This time, he hit only three balls out of the infield. He also could not catch up to a bloop fly ball by Scott Servais that gave the Astros’ a 5-4 victory Wednesday.
And he raised eyebrows Tuesday by failing to score from second base on a two-out single by Jose Offerman in the second inning. With pitcher Tom Candiotti due up next, third base coach Joe Amalfitano waved Strawberry home. But Strawberry ignored the sign and was stranded on third. The Dodgers won, 6-2.
“I know he tried to send me, but I saw where the center fielder was playing and I knew I couldn’t score,” Strawberry said. “I’ve been around this game long enough to know when I can’t score.”
Kal Daniels was able to pinch-hit Wednesday and hopes to start tonight against Atlanta Brave right-hander Mike Bielecki. Daniels has missed five games because of a twisted right knee. During Daniels’ absence, first basemen Todd Benzinger and Eric Karros combined on four hits in 25 at-bats (.160). . . . The slightly herniated disk in Eric Davis’ neck causes him such pain, he sleeps only a few hours a night. And this is with a special cervical pillow. “I don’t want to take sleeping pills,” he insisted. “I’m worried I won’t wake up.” . . . Al Osuna has struck out Strawberry five times in eight at-bats. Strawberry has two hits, including a home run. “I talked to Darryl while I was running in the outfield before one of these games, so I think everything is fine now,” Osuna said. “We can be adversaries. We don’t need to be enemies.”
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