BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Davis Looks to Smith for Help With Bat

Eric Davis, trying to straighten out his hitting problems, began working with minor league instructor Reggie Smith.

Davis, who broke out of an early-season batting slump during the Pittsburgh series at Dodger Stadium a month ago, batting .692 (nine for 13). But after that series, he slumped again.

Davis said the problem with his swing was compounded when a broadcaster covering a Dodger game made a suggestion about his swing that the Dodgers heard about. Davis said the Dodgers then tried to get him to revamp his swing.

“The (broadcaster) said I couldn’t hit the way my hands were and someone (with the Dodgers) believed him,” Davis said. “It’s my fault for trying to change because I was trying to please everybody. They were just looking out for my best interests.

“(Although) I will never be able to swing the way I did before my kidney injury (in the 1990 World Series), I have to make a few adjustment, but nothing dramatic. But what I was trying to do (with the recent change) was dramatic.”

Davis, who is batting .211 with only three extra base hits in 114 at bats, worked with Smith for about 2 1/2 hours Monday in the batting cage and said he will work with Smith as long as it takes.

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Pedro Martinez, who gave up the winning home run to Doug Drabek Sunday in the Houston Astros’ 3-2 victory, said at first he was paralyzed, but then all he could do is shake his head. “Here I get the first two hitters out easy, then the pitcher is up and he hits a homer,” Martinez said. “It was a lucky shot, I mean a pitcher hitting a homer? How often does that happen? Once every 100 years?”