BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : They Pass Left-Handed Test

The Dodgers’ success against Reds’ left-handed starters this weekend--two victories in three games with a .272 batting average--could be traced to an impromptu meeting held on the team bus before the series began.

The Dodgers had just left Houston, where struggling left-hander Jim Deshaies had shut them down on two hits. They were 5-10 against left-handers with a .217 batting average.

“At first we saw that the Reds were throwing three left-handers against us, and it was like, ‘Man, is that all we are going to see this year?’ ” Brett Butler said. “So on the bus we started talking and said, ‘OK, if that’s the way it’s going to be, we have to take it as a challenge. We have to get it in our heads that we can hit left-handers.”

Fred Claire, Dodger vice president, proclaimed Sunday that shortstop Jose Offerman belongs in the major leagues, even though Offerman has been replaced in the starting lineup by Alfredo Griffin and could soon be sent back to the minors when Mike Sharperson recovers from a leg injury.

In 13 games as a starter, Offerman hit only .200. But he did not commit an error, and the Dodgers were 9-4 during that time.

Claire will meet with Orel Hershiser and therapist Pat Screnar today to decide whether Hershiser will return to the roster this week. . . . Kal Daniels was hurting Sunday because his arthritic left knee does not feel well immediately after a night game. Especially not after his sixth consecutive game on artificial turf. . . . The Reds placed pitcher Norm Charlton on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis.