BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Time Flies as Gross Still Is Having Fun

Kevin Gross will try to accomplish tonight what only one major league pitcher has ever done, throw back-to-back no-hitters.

There have been many hitless games pitched, but only Johnny Vander Meer in 1938 with the Cincinnati Reds threw consecutive no-hitters.

Gross, who held the San Francisco Giants without a hit Monday night, will face the Cubs in the second game of the series, said he didn’t expect to have any problem sleeping Friday night.

“It’s such a longshot to do two of them in a row,” he said. “But wouldn’t it be something?

“The time has gone by so fast between starts that I really haven’t had time to even think about it.

“I threw on the sidelines yesterday and I had fantastic stuff. I have had good stuff all season, but that doesn’t always mean anything. I started off sharp the game before the no-hitter, too. The Reds didn’t get a hit until the fifth.

“I’ll go out there and give it my best shot and see what happens.”

There has been speculation that when Tom Candiotti returns next week that Gross will go to the bullpen. Said Manager Tom Lasorda: “That’s just speculation. There’s been no decision made.”

The 35th “Hollywood Stars Night” will set back the start of tonight’s game to 7:35.

Among the celebrities scheduled to play in the 6 p.m. game are Billy Crystal and Cathy Lee Crosby.

Orel Hershiser, his family and a number of his teammates will take part today in a fashion show at the Sheraton Universal Hotel to benefit the fight against cystic fibrosis fund.

The last throwing error by Cub second baseman Ryne Sandberg came at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 4, 1990. He has played 350 games since then.

Jim Bullinger (1-3), until recently a reliever, will make his second start for the Cubs tonight. He lost his first start, on Aug. 15 against Houston.