BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Rodriguez Makes Most of Time in L.A.

Two big pinch-hits in consecutive games earned Henry Rodriguez a start in right field Saturday night, and he hopes he won’t be issued any more tickets back to Albuquerque anytime soon.

The 25-year-old outfielder, recalled from the team’s triple-A affiliate June 21 when second baseman Jody Reed was put on the disabled list, plans to make the most of it.

In the ninth inning of Thursday’s 1-0 loss to the Houston Astros, Rodriguez kept Dodger hopes alive with a single. Friday night, he came off the bench in the fifth inning to hit a three-run home run off Cub starter Jose Guzman to tie the score, 3-3, before the Dodgers lost, 8-5.

“It was very emotional for me,” he said of the homer. “I’ve had two at-bats since I was called up from the Dodgers this time, and I’m two for two. I’m trying to get in the lineup.”

With Darryl Strawberry on the disabled list and probably out for the season, Rodriguez might get the chance to take up residence.

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Chris Duca, former head groundskeeper for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers, died Wednesday. He was 77. . . . Cub reliever Randy Myers, who had a career-high 38 saves last season with the Padres, has all 22 of the Cubs’ saves this season. Since saves became an official stat in 1969, Myers and Goose Gossage are the only relievers to have recorded 20 or more saves for four teams. . . . Cory Snyder made his second start of the season at third base Saturday night. He has started at three positions this season--third, right field and left--and has also played first base.