BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Ojeda Likes Dodgers’ Chances in West

Bob Ojeda, the veteran Dodger pitcher who correctly predicted last season that their seven-game losing streak after the All-Star break would haunt him, made another pronouncement about his team Sunday.

“This ballclub is good enough to win the division,” he said. “Certain years there are powerhouse teams in your division, and if you lose a little ground, you are in trouble. But there ain’t no powerhouse this year.”

Ojeda said that even though the Dodgers lost to the San Francisco Giants Sunday, by taking two out of three games at Candlestick Park they performed like a championship team.

“Teams that I have played for that have won championships, they do it by winning series,” Ojeda said. “You don’t always have to sweep a series, just win it. What happened this weekend is what we have to do all year.”

Ojeda said he is convinced because of the team’s versatile lineup, its strong bullpen and starting rotation, and its attitude.

“We always feel we are in the game, just look at today,” he said. “There is a different feeling this year, and it’s a good one.”

Ojeda, who before the game had a streak of 12 scoreless innings, gave up four runs, three earned, and seven hits in six innings. But it could have been worse.

He was in almost constant trouble, allowing the leadoff hitter to reach base in five of his six innings. In Ojeda’s 24 innings this season, he had allowed the leadoff runner to reach base 13 times. In nearly half of those innings, a run has scored.

“My problem has been leadoff hitters and pitchers,” Ojeda said.

Brett Butler said he decided to play Sunday despite a sore left hamstring only because, “I don’t want to miss games against West teams,” he said. “I know it sounds crazy, but if I can walk, I want to play against West teams.” With the East teams coming to town beginning tonight, look for Butler to finally take a break. . . . Jose Offerman’s nine-game errorless streak was broken when he bounced a throw to Kal Daniels at first base during the fifth inning. Although Offerman has only one hit in his last 22 at-bats, the Dodgers are pleased because of his recent defense. “There was a lot of junk written and talked about concerning the kid early this year, but he got through it,” pitcher John Candelaria said. “From what I’ve seen, he’s going to be a good one.”