Doctor Tells Lasorda to Stay Home

Manager Tom Lasorda, who was released from the hospital Monday after undergoing an angioplasty following a heart attack, had hoped to attend Thursday’s night’s game, but his doctors nixed the plan.

“Dr. [Michael] Melman told me no way,” Lasorda said from his home in Fullerton before the game against the Colorado Rockies. “I’m very disappointed, but I have to follow doctor’s orders.”

Lasorda said it was strange to be at home on July 4 instead of at a baseball game.

“It’s unbelievable,” Lasorda said. “In all my life I’ve never been home on July 4.”

After going for a 2 1/2-mile walk, Lasorda watched several games on television.

“I don’t have much of an appetite,” Lasorda said. “And I can’t eat that stuff [barbecue] right now. But I’m feeling good.”

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Outfielder Billy Ashley, who hasn’t been playing much because the Dodgers haven’t seen many left-handers, has only four hits in his last 49 at-bats (.082). Ashley hit .063 last month, getting two hits in 32 at-bats.

Would Ashley be hitting better if he were playing regularly?

“I can’t see it getting any lower, I’ll tell you that much,” Ashley said.

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Rocky second baseman Eric Young, a former Dodger, will play in his first All-Star game next week.

“I’m as excited about this as I can be,” Young said. “There’s not many chances you get to be selected and go to the All-Star game.”