BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Injuries Hasten Return of DeShields

The Dodgers nearly ran out of second basemen during Saturday’s game against the Mets at New York. With Delino DeShields still sidelined after suffering a concussion and the Mets starting left-hander Eric Hillman, Manager Tom Lasorda started Cory Snyder ahead of Jeff Treadway at second.

In the seventh inning, first baseman Eric Karros injured his wrist in a collision with David Segui. Karros left the game, and X-rays were negative.

Snyder moved to first base, and Treadway took over at second. In the eighth, Treadway was hit by a pitch from Josias Manzanillo and left the game. X-rays were negative.

The only second baseman remaining was DeShields, whose head is feeling better but said he wasn’t supposed to play until today or Monday. But Lasorda had no other choice, so DeShields went in.

“The only other thing I could do is put (Tim) Wallach at second and Carlos Hernandez at third,” Lasorda said.

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It has been some time since Wallach, who is batting .419 in his last nine games with five homers and 19 runs batted in, has felt as good as he is this season.

“It’s been so long, I don’t remember,” he joked. “I guess the last time was in ‘87, the other year of the juiced ball.”

Manzanillo, who gave up three homers to the Dodgers during the eighth inning, said that now he knows the ball is juiced.

“When I was called up, I heard about the balls bouncing all over the place, but now I can say something about that,” Manzanillo said. “I can tell you that the balls do fly.”

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Met Manager Dallas Green said he will keep Bobby Bonilla at third base, rather than moving him back to the outfield to protect his shoulder. Green said he is happy with Bonilla at third and wants him there as long as he can handle it. Bonilla was four for four with two RBIs and a home run Saturday.