BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Lasorda Denies Demeaning Giants

Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda telephoned San Francisco Manager Dusty Baker on Monday afternoon and adamantly denied that he ever questioned the Giants’ desire to beat the Colorado Rockies.

“I never said it,” Lasorda said, “so how can anyone accuse me of saying that? It’s crazy. Can you imagine me saying something like that about a guy who played for me for six or seven years? A guy that I loved very much. A guy that I recommended for the job in San Francisco.

“Why would I ever question his effort or contributions? Whoever said it is a liar. If I even thought something like that, I wouldn’t be so dumb to say it.”

The only time Lasorda has even alluded to it the last week was when he agreed with his players that it was in the Dodgers’ best interest to root for the Giants down the stretch to stay in the pennant race to provide extra incentive.

“I know it sounds strange,” Lasorda said a week ago, “but you do what you’ve got to do. We want the Giants to have something to shoot for. If the Giants were in our position, I’m sure they’d be rooting for us too.”

The Dodgers also were aware that once the Giants were eliminated from the race, leadoff hitter Deion Sanders would have ankle surgery, which took place Monday. The Rockies play their final four games of the season against the Giants at Coors Field.

“Deion is out of our control,” said Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president. “He doesn’t make my 100 list of worries.”

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Tom Candiotti, who is scheduled to start tonight against the Rockies, realizes that a victory could pave the way for the Dodgers’ first playoff berth since 1988.

“I remember pitching against the Angels and clinching the division in 1991,” said Candiotti, who was pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays. “The crowd was really into the game. There were 50,000 people waving their white hankies. I want to experience that again.”

Candiotti will face Bret Saberhagen, who is pitching with an inflamed shoulder and is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery in the off-season. It will be only his third start in the last month.

Baylor doesn’t know what to expect from Saberhagen, but said: “It’s been courage, a purple-heart performance every time he goes out there.”

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The Dodgers will start Kevin Tapani on Wednesday against the Rockies. Tapani is 0-1 with a 13.50 earned-run average in three games at Dodger Stadium this season.

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Left fielder Roberto Kelly was jolted when he got out of his car Monday afternoon in the Dodger parking lot and was nearly hit by a baseball.

“A ball just missed hitting me in the head,” Kelly said. “I took three steps, and another ball came at me. I looked up to see who was throwing baseballs at me.

“It turns out it was [Billy Ashley] taking batting practice.”

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Catcher Mike Piazza concedes that his chances of winning the National League batting title are nearly extinct after watching San Diego outfielder Tony Gwynn over the weekend.

“The guy’s unconscious,” Piazza said. “I’m kind of cashing in my chips. It’s over.”