BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Piazza, Wallach, DeShields Sit

The Dodgers, trying anything to end their horrendous offensive drought, held a 90-minute practice early Tuesday afternoon and then benched three starters for a night.

Manager Tom Lasorda replaced catcher Mike Piazza, third baseman Tim Wallach and second baseman Delino DeShields with catcher Carlos Hernandez, third baseman Dave Hansen and second baseman Chad Fonville. Piazza is in a 6-for-35 slump (.171); Wallach is batting .218, with only nine runs batted in the last 31 games; and DeShields is in a 7-for-44 (.160) slump.

“This is as good a time as any for a day off,” Piazza said. “This is just a time of season where my bat has started to slow down, and I’ve got to make adjustments. I’m going through a stage where I feel a little fatigued.”

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While the Dodgers continue to blame their offensive troubles on their inability to hit with runners in scoring position, the truth is that they were hitting .280 in that situation coming into Tuesday’s game, second only to the Houston Astros (.289).

With two outs and runners in scoring position, the Dodgers are batting .249, which ranks sixth in the league.

“That’s a pressure situation,” said Reggie Smith, Dodger hitting coach, “and we’re trying to reverse it. I’m trying to get across that we shouldn’t be the ones in trouble. The pitcher’s in trouble.”

Piazza leads the team with two outs and runners in scoring position, batting .476. Jose Offerman is second (.318) and Wallach third (.318).

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Dodger All-Star right fielder Raul Mondesi said he’s still trying to emotionally recover from the death of his good friend, Andreas Quirroga. Quirroga was murdered over the weekend at his Los Angeles home. . . . Piazza received a computer video game setup from Hideo Nomo in a show of appreciation for his efforts.