BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Mondesi Changes Sliding Technique

Right fielder Raul Mondesi, who bruised the left side of his face when he was kneed by Pittsburgh shortstop Jay Bell while sliding headfirst into second base on an attempted steal last Sunday, has changed his sliding technique.

He is sliding feet first now.

“It’s crazy to slide headfirst,” Manager Tom Lasorda said. “The infielder can jump up and catch the ball and come down on your head. It’s crazy to do that. There’s certainly no advantage.”

Mondesi said he changed to avoid further injury.

“I’ve got to take care of myself,” he said. “It feels OK, sliding that way.”

*

The Dodgers surpassed the 2-million mark in attendance for the 23rd consecutive season Wednesday. They have drawn 2,040,803 in 54 games. They reached that mark in Game 49 of the strike-shortened 1994 season.

“Our fans never left us,” Lasorda said. “We’ve always tried to give the fans an outstanding team and they’ve supported us over the years in great quantity and great quality.”

*

A fan behind home plate on the loge level was ejected after he threw a foul ball back onto the field in the fourth inning. Fans seated around the man pointed him out to ushers.

It was hardly comparable to last Thursday’s 2-1 forfeit loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, which was called with one out in the ninth inning after fans threw souvenir promotional baseballs onto the field.