BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Piazza Gets Short Break

Mike Piazza, in his first prolonged batting slump, didn’t start Saturday night. Piazza came in as a pinch hitter and went 0 for 2, dropping his average to .313, down from .346 on June 21, when the Dodgers returned from their last trip.

After that trip, when Piazza drove in 10 runs in eight games and hit four home runs, Piazza returned home to a flurry of media requests. At one point, he even sneaked into the wives’ waiting room at Dodger Stadium before a game and took a nap.

So when Piazza hurt his groin Friday night fielding a bunt, the club decided Saturday might be a good time to give him a rest.

Piazza has started 69 of the Dodgers’ 78 games and played in 74.

“I’m trying to be as gracious as I can to all the requests, but there is only so much I can do (with the media) without it interfering with my playing,” Piazza said. “I’m just trying to go with the flow.”

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Texas Ranger Manager Kevin Kennedy is under fire for letting Jose Canseco pitch during a game that may have caused the outfielder a season-ending injury. But Tim Wallach, who pitched two innings in two games during the 1987 and 1989 seasons, says it’s not Kennedy’s fault.

Wallach, when playing for the Montreal Expos for Manager Buck Rodgers, was sent out to throw his knuckleball during two blowouts.

“It loosened everyone up and we were getting beat badly, so it took a little of the pain away,” Wallach said. “It’s not the manager’s fault. This isn’t the first time (a position player) has pitched, it’s been done 100 times before. Kennedy didn’t make Jose go out there. From what I understand he had been asking to pitch.”

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Mike Sharperson, who strained his left hamstring Wednesday, is improved and available to pinch hit. . . . The Dodgers have lost seven of their last eight games played on July 4. The last Dodger victory on this date was in 1985 against the St. Louis Cardinals. . . . For the record: Jim Gott recorded his 14th save Friday, the most he has had in a season since he earned 34 with Pittsburgh in 1988. In the 35 games Gott has appeared in this season, the Dodgers’ record is 28-7.