BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT

Brett Butler hugged his teammates before the game, offered encouragement while sitting behind the on-deck circle, and realized Thursday just how badly he wants to be back with them.

Butler still is holding out hope to rejoin the Dodgers in September, but acknowledges that it will be difficult.

He decided Thursday that he will undergo all six weeks of radiation treatments in Atlanta, and will then travel to Tijuana for three weeks of intravenous feedings of the drug laetrile to help build up his immune system. He hopes to have his treatments completed by Aug. 17, leaving little time to regain his strength and get in playing shape before the season’s conclusion.

Yet his desire to return is as strong as ever.

“Absolutely,” he said, when asked if he still plans to return. “I just can’t put a timetable on it.”

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Shortstop Greg Gagne, who has been sidelined since May 17 because of a sprained left ankle, said that he hopes to leave this weekend for a rehabilitative assignment at Class-A Vero Beach. If all goes well at Vero Beach, he said, he may rejoin the team in Chicago next week.

“This is the best I’ve felt yet,” Gagne said. “I can’t wait to get back in there.”

When Gagne returns to the lineup, the Dodgers are expected to send infielder Mike Busch to triple-A Albuquerque.

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Catcher Mike Piazza was kept out of the lineup because of his inflamed right knee and is expected to be out until at least Saturday. . . . Reliever Darren Hall played long toss Thursday for the first time since undergoing elbow surgery April 29. He hopes to be able to return to the team in September. “It’s nice just to go through the throwing motion again” Hall said. . . . Atlanta Brave Manager Bobby Cox, who has won more games than any manager in baseball the last 5 1/2 seasons, had his contract extended two more years through 1999 with a club option for 2000.