BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Butler Finds a Home in Second Spot

Perhaps all Brett Butler needed was new surroundings.

Since being moved from the leadoff spot to the No. 2 spot in the batting order after the All-Star break, Butler has had a hit in each of the eight games, with 15 hits in 24 at-bats, a .625 pace.

Butler, who had a single, double and a home run on Wednesday, has raised his average from .277 to .302 in those eight games.

Two of those hits were against Met starter David Cone, who had held him to a .229 average before Wednesday.

“It’s like I was telling Tommy (Lasorda) during spring training when the idea first came up,” Butler said. “If (Jose) Offerman can get on base, this can be the best scenario for us.

“When Offerman began struggling early, they decided to wait, but now it’s working out great. For whatever reason, I’m seeing the ball great and I’m able to get down my bunts and move the ball around the field.”

Offerman also has hit in every game since the All-Star break, going 11 for 30, and has raised his average from .254 to .265.

Tom Candiotti said there is a remote chance he could use Super Glu to fix his broken fingernail, which forced him out of Tuesday’s game.

“I’ve done it before. It eventually caused the fingernail to be top-heavy, and it ended up breaking again,” Candiotti said. “But I will do anything to be able to throw my knuckleball.”

Candiotti figures he can retain his grip by merely letting the fingernail grow out before cutting it. Either way, he said he will make his next scheduled start Monday in San Francisco.

“I’m not just a knuckleball pitcher, so I can go to other things,” he said.

The Dodgers recalled outfielder Henry Rodriguez to replace Darryl Strawberry on the roster. In 72 games at triple-A Albuquerque, Rodriguez was hitting .310 with 14 home runs and a team-leading 72 runs batted in. Rodriguez is hitless in two major league at-bats this season after spending two games with the Dodgers during their spate of doubleheaders in early July. As part of Fred Claire’s effort to reshape the team, Rodriguez could be given a chance in the season’s final two months to show he could become the club’s left fielder next season.

Cone recorded his eighth double-digit strikeout game of the season with 10 strikeouts in six innings. Cone has won six consecutive games, despite matching his season high for giving up runs: five. After throwing 166 pitches in his last start, he threw 124 Wednesday and looked strong. . . . The Dodgers had another wild pitch Wednesday, this time from Orel Hershiser, giving them at least one in every game since the All-Star break. . . . Albuquerque catcher Mike Piazza sat out Wednesday’s game against Las Vegas and has a 24-game hitting streak.