BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DeShields Would Prefer to Stay in L.A.

Second baseman Delino DeShields, who will be eligible for free agency at the season’s conclusion if players are granted most, if not all, of their 63 days of lost service time during the strike, said Saturday that his first choice is to stay with the Dodgers.

“I’m just looking for some security,” DeShields said. “They give me a three-year contract, and I’ll be right here. I’m going to give them every opportunity to sign me. They can make my decision for me.

“But I feel like Fred [Claire, executive vice president] has been fair with me. He’s been straight up with me. But if things don’t work out, I have no hard feelings. It will be time for me to go.

“I know I’m going to be playing in the league for somebody, and leading off for somebody.”

While significant progress is being made toward reaching a Basic Agreement, possibly by the All-Star break, there is an increased likelihood that players will receive their lost service time. It would make DeShields a free agent, joining shortstop Greg Gagne, center fielder Brett Butler and relievers Mark Guthrie and Scott Radinsky.

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His contributions may have been overlooked Friday night in the Dodgers’ 11-3 loss to the Houston Astros, but the unsung hero may have been Dodger reliever Joey Eischen.

Eischen, who had pitched only 4 2/3 innings since May 25, completed 6 2/3 innings and threw 102 pitches in the mop-up role. It was much too late to change the outcome of the game, but Eischen’s performance gave the bullpen a much-needed day off.

“I can’t tell you how important that was,” pitching coach Dave Wallace said. “He deserves all of the credit in the world for what he did. He really stepped up big-time.”

Said Eischen: “My shoulder is sore, but I had a great time. I just wish we could have won that game.”

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Just how precious is pitching these days?

When the Dodgers traded Billy Brewer to the New York Yankees on Friday, Brewer became only the seventh pitcher on a 40-man roster traded since opening day. He joins Lee Smith, Chuck McElroy, Rich Monteleone, Blas Minor, Gregg Olson and Tom Urbani.

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Right fielder Raul Mondesi sat out his second consecutive game because of a bruised left heel. He probably will be sidelined for today’s game. Mondesi has sat out only seven games since his rookie season. . . . Infielder Mike Busch underwent an MRI exam on his right elbow, which showed only inflammation. He took batting practice for the first time since going on the disabled list last week. “I’m optimistic everything will be all right,” Busch said. . . . The Dodgers have scored only 46.2% of their runners from third with less than two outs, the worst percentage in the National League. . . . Umpire Bruce Froemming left the series because of the death of his mother.