BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Nomo Receives Fake Fingernail

Dodger pitcher Hideo Nomo, who struck out 11 New York Mets before being forced to leave because of a cracked nail on his right middle finger with one out in the seventh inning of Thursday night’s 6-5 victory, had a fake nail applied.

“We’ll get a read on how he’s feeling when he throws his next bullpen,” physical therapist Pat Screnar said.

“It’s serious if he misses a start. Right now, I can’t tell you if he’s going to miss a start.”

Nomo, a leading candidate for the National League rookie-of-the-year award, is already ahead of the pace that former Dodger pitcher Fernando Valenzuela set in winning the award in 1981.

Nomo has 205 strikeouts in 23 games; Valenzuela struck out 180 in his first 25 games. Nomo has a 2.47 earned-run average; Valenzuela compiled a 2.48 ERA.

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Catcher Tom Prince, who suffered a concussion and a bruised left thigh in a home plate collision with outfielder Ryan Thompson of the Mets on June 3, was among seven players called up from the minors when the Dodgers expanded their roster to 40.

Prince said he is fully recovered.

“I was fine a while ago,” Prince said. “I went down and rehabbed it and I played one game here and I’d get a day off and then another game and then two games in a row. After the second time I caught two in a row, I caught six in a row.”

Pitchers Omar Daal and Jim Bruske, outfielder Roger Cedeno and infielders Garey Ingram and Juan Castro, who joined the team along with Prince, took batting practice before the regulars with Manager Tom Lasorda looking on. Pitcher Chan Ho Park, also recalled from Albuquerque, will join the team next week.

“We’re trying to work with the youngsters,” Lasorda said. “I have complete confidence in every one of them; that’s why they’re here. Maybe one of them will help us.”

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Shortstop Jose Offerman, in jeopardy of losing his No. 2 spot in the batting order to second baseman Delino DeShields, who has batted .429 in his last 11 games before Friday, doubled down the left-field line in his first at-bat. Offerman batted .216 (24 for 111) with one home run and eight RBIs in August.