There’s a Catch to Lineup

The Dodgers almost became the first major league team to play a game with two catchers when they opened interleague play against the Athletics.

Coach Mike Scioscia listed Mike Piazza as the catcher instead of the designated hitter when he made out the lineup card before the game.

Scioscia, the longtime Dodger catcher, quickly corrected it when a reporter pointed out the error to him.

“He’s the DH,” Scioscia said. “He knows it, the whole world knows it.”

Tom Prince was the catcher, and Piazza had three singles, raising his average to .354.

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Manager Bill Russell was hit in the left side of the head by a ball thrown by outfielder Eric Anthony as he was talking to the media before Thursday night’s game.

“It was definitely an accident,” Anthony said. “I wouldn’t intentionally try to hit my manager. We were just warming up playing catch and the ball got away.

“Things like that happen all the time. I apologized. He knew I didn’t mean to do it on purpose.”

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Brett Butler doesn’t like interleague play.

“I’m a traditionalist by nature,” Butler said. “I think this is going to take away from the aftermath of the playoffs. But that’s from a player’s standpoint. I think from a fan’s standpoint it will be exciting.

“They’re going to like this. We’re sold out in Seattle [for this weekend’s two-game series]. If that will make the fans happy, that’s what it’s all about.”

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Outfielder Billy Ashley, who was scratched from Wednesday night’s victory over Houston because of a sore back and neck, was in uniform Thursday night.

TONIGHT’S GAME

DODGERS’ PEDRO ASTACIO (3-5, 3.51 ERA) vs. ATHLETICS’ STEVE KARSAY (1-7, 5.66 ERA)

Site--Oakland Coliseum, 7:30 p.m.

TV--Channel 5. Radio--KABC (790), KWKW (1330).

* Update--The Dodgers, who opened interleague play against the Athletics on Thursday night, complete the two-game series tonight. Astacio will be making his first start since he threw a fit in the dugout in Sunday’s 9-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. Astacio, who has lost five consecutive decisions, gave up five runs on nine hits in four innings. Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco are the only remaining players from the Athletics’ 1988 World Series team, and Canseco spent some of that time with Texas and Boston. Karsay sat out the last two seasons after undergoing elbow surgery.