BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Ojeda Says He Is Trying Too Hard

Bob Ojeda acknowledged Sunday that he may be trying too hard to impress his new fans at Dodger Stadium, where he is 0-3 with a 6.19 earned-run average.

“I think anybody who comes to a new team goes through this,” said Ojeda, who was the losing pitcher Saturday night in the Dodgers’ 4-3 defeat to the San Francisco Giants. “I want to win here so bad, and the harder you want to do something. . . .

“I want to get that first one, put the ball up there (in his locker) and just look at it. Once I get over the hump and do that, I’ll be fine.”

In Ojeda’s defense, the Dodgers could have made up for the three runs he allowed Saturday if they had not botched two sacrifice bunts and committed a ninth-inning error.

Also, in his three losses, the Dodgers have scored a total of six runs, including only three runs while he was in the game.

Orel Hershiser threw 60 strong pitches to three Dodgers hitters Sunday morning and then said, “With what I accomplished today, I could go to the minor leagues next week and not feel set back.”

Hershiser, who earlier postponed tentative plans for a minor league start today, could begin his rehabilitation option as soon as Friday at Class-A Vero Beach.

Based upon the notion that he would need four days rest between minor league starts, if he pitches in Vero Beach Friday he could return to the Dodgers before the end of May.

However, Hershiser also could continue to work on his mechanics by facing more Dodger hitters first, an option which he says could result in a quicker return to the roster.

The season attendance at Dodger Stadium of 436,761 is the second-highest 10-game total in Los Angeles history. . . . Kal Daniels, who missed Sunday’s game with a sore left knee, said, “I hurt myself by making that mad dash to first base so many times, then turning around.” Daniels, who is hitless in his last nine at-bats, said he expects to play in the upcoming East Coast trip. . . . Fred Claire, Dodger vice president, will be visiting triple-A Albuquerque Monday and Tuesday. Besides watching Dennis Cook start, he will be keeping a close eye on Jose Offerman, who could be playing shortstop in Dodger Stadium soon. Entering Sunday’s game, Offerman was hitting .500 after 32 at-bats. At Dodger Stadium, Alfredo Griffin was benched for the second time this season while mired in a three-for-20 slump.