BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : Gagne Displays Talents at Short

It was supposed to be a celebration of the return of pitcher Hideo Nomo, but shortstop Greg Gagne stole the show Sunday in the Dodgers’ 5-2 exhibition victory over the Houston Astros.

Gagne made two spectacular defensive plays in their exhibition opener at Holman Stadium. He went deep into the hole, made a backhanded stab, and fired to first to rob Ricky Gutierrez of a hit. He then turned a quick double-play on another, leaving fans gasping and his teammates applauding.

“I told him, ‘That’s why you’re here,’ ” Manager Tommy Lasorda said, “ ‘to make plays like that.’ ”

Said center fielder Brett Butler: “It’s a beautiful thing. All the pitchers are smiling because they know they don’t have to be so fine.”

Gagne’s lone complaint was that he wishes comparisons to former Dodger shortstop Jose Offerman would stop. “The Dodgers didn’t think he was getting the job done, and felt like I’m a better shortstop than Offy. That’s why I’m here. It’s that simple.”

*

Nomo had an impressive debut, striking out three batters and yielding only one hit, a 400-foot home run to Brian Hunter, in three innings. “I was consistent with my fastball,” Nomo said. “I would say that things are coming around pretty smoothly.”

*

Center fielder Roger Cedeno continues to be the biggest surprise in camp, and could force the Dodgers to make a difficult decision. “I’m very, very impressed,” Lasorda said. “I’ll take a look at him.” . . . Butler not only is embracing the experiment of having Delino DeShields as the everyday leadoff hitter, but was the one who suggested it. “If Bop can get on base, you can use more of my talents,” Butler said. “He could steal 50 or 60 bases. If Bop gets on, this will be our best lineup.” . . . Left-hander Joey Eischen pitched two perfect innings.