BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Strawberry Has a Good Day

It has been a long time since Darryl Strawberry came off the field and received congratulations from his teammates. But he spent a game doing that Friday when he threw out a runner at home, stole a base and knocked in the winning run in the 10th inning of the Dodgers’ 2-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles at Vero Beach, Fla.

In the second inning, Strawberry caught a fly ball to medium-deep left field and threw out Cal Ripken Jr., who was trying to score from third. Strawberry went two for five, scored the tying run and beat out a potential double-play ball in the 10th inning to score Raul Mondesi for the winning run.

It was his most successful performance in more than a season.

“This is successful?” Strawberry smiled. “Each day I play, I show more and more signs of my old type of play. But I get more excited about stealing bases than anything, because if I can do that, then everything else will take care of itself. I had such trouble running the last couple of seasons because of my back, the fact that I can run again is the best sign of all.”

Through six games, Strawberry has yet to hit a home run, but he says he’s not worried. “This is not a spring training where I can just get into shape. I need the work, that’s the key. There are a lot of muscles that have not been used. I have truly missed a lot of baseball, and it is taking a lot of hard work to get back, but I feel very encouraged being in the middle of the things again, and things will get better.”

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Delino DeShields was fitted with a protective mask and is scheduled to play in a B game Sunday to adjust to wearing the plastic mask, which is designed to protect his broken cheekbone until it heals.

“When I go to L.A., I’m leaving the mask here,” said DeShields, who has been sidelined for 10 days. “I can’t stand being out of the lineup unless it’s an off day, then it’s OK. It’s tough sitting around. I’ve been doing everything but playing, but they want me to wear the mask in case I slide or make contact. And I do slide headfirst a lot.”

DeShields, who was hit by a bat two days before the first exhibition game, said that he and shortstop Jose Offerman are already comfortable playing together. “The more we work together the better it will be, but I feel I can go out and play with him in my sleep,” DeShields said. “You (reporters) are making a big deal of playing with Jose--he’s a major league player.”

DeShields says his only problem now is trying to keep his 18-month old son, Delino Jr., away from him. “I’m always smacking him around and playing with him, and he doesn’t know I’ve had an operation,” DeShields said. “Other than that, everything is lovely.”

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Offerman returned to Los Angeles to be with his fiance, Alexis Rivera, who gave birth to their daughter, Joseanne. He is expected to return to Vero Beach Sunday. . . . Kevin Gross, who is trying to build his arm up slowly from tendinitis, pitched in a minor league game and gave up four runs and six hits in three innings. . . . Carlos Hernandez, who had arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder, said he is about a week away from catching in a game. . . . Cory Snyder, who pulled a muscle in his right side, is taking live batting practice but is not 100%. He has not played in a game yet.