BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Scioscia Put on 15-Day Disabled List

The Dodgers’ catching position was weakened Thursday when Mike Scioscia was put on the 15-day disabled list with a sore right hand and Gary Carter said the cortisone shot he received Sunday has not helped his sore right elbow.

Scioscia will be eligible to return July 21 because he last appeared in a game July 4. His roster spot will be taken by third baseman Dave Hansen, who will join the team for the second time this season, in Montreal today.

“Nobody wants to go on the disabled list, but I’ve been hurting the team,” Scioscia said. “And it looks like there is no miracle cure that will let me play tomorrow or the next day. Hopefully, by next week, I’ll be able to do something.”

Scioscia has missed 12 starts since taking a foul ball off the hand in the first inning June 25 against the San Francisco Giants. He attempted to throw and hit before Thursday’s game in hopes of returning to the lineup this weekend, but he could not properly control the ball or bat.

Carter has hits in 14 of his past 16 games, but he has been nursing a sore elbow since the Dodgers asked him to take extra throwing practice a couple of weeks ago. He took a cortisone shot Sunday to relieve the pain, but he said Thursday that it did not work.

“The shot didn’t do any good, I still feel something in there, my arm is not snapping as much on my throws,” Carter said. “But even if they take some X-rays and find something, I’m not having anything done, not at this time of the season. I’m still throwing people out.”

Look for more playing time for rookie backup Carlos Hernandez, who has appeared in only four innings since being recalled from triple-A Albuquerque June 27.

Jay Howell threw on the side and said he is still experiencing discomfort in his sore elbow, which caused the Dodgers to put him on the disabled list June 27. He said if he is not ready to return within a week, he will consider taking a cortisone shot.

“I really thought it would be better by now,” Howell said. “But the tender feeling is still there, and I will not throw through anything until it feels good.”

Manager Tom Lasorda gave a pep talk to Kevin Gross, who has temporarily moved into the role of closer. Gross, who has pitched much better since going to the bullpen, is 1-1 with a 2.81 earned-run average and three saves as a reliever.

Ramon Martinez said his injured left hip felt fine, so he will start Saturday. Mike Morgan will start tonight, and Tim Belcher will start Sunday in the series finale. . . . Brett Butler said his grounder to the Oakland Athletics’ Dennis Eckersley in the All-Star game had a familiar sound. When Butler was with the San Francisco Giants, he grounded out to Eckersley on the same pitch to end the 1989 World Series. “A low sinker away,” Butler said. “I hit the ball and said, ‘Oh no, not again!’ Twice I’ve hit Eckersley pitches and then watched him celebrate.”