BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : A Root Canal Doesn’t Stop Butler

It won’t be found in the box score, but Brett Butler might have had his most remarkable game of the season Tuesday.

He had two hits, a walk and a sacrifice bunt in seven plate appearances, despite having had an extensive root canal treatment before the game.

“I was joking to someone that I’m not going to let these kids take my spot,” Butler said. “I was saying there are too many kids here as it is.”

Butler awoke at 6:15 a.m. Tuesday with a searing pain in his mouth. He found a dentist in a distant suburb and phoned Manager Tom Lasorda after the 2 1/2-hour procedure was over. “I told him I would be late for batting practice, but that I wanted to play,” Butler said. “He told me just to take the day off. I told him I would be there.”

Butler arrived an hour before the first pitch, his mouth still numb from the pain-killing shots, and played without the benefit of batting or infield practice.

Mike Piazza wasn’t the only player whose dreams came true Tuesday.

Rafael Bournigal, whose playing career was essentially finished last season when he was made a player-coach in the minor leagues, made his major league debut at shortstop. “A lot of people didn’t expect this, but I always knew I had a chance,” said Bournigal, who is with the club only because Jose Offerman is injured.

One dream was put on hold. Billy Ashley, a power-hitting prospect who was also recalled Monday, was sent to the plate as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning, then was called back when the Cubs changed pitchers.

“At least I got my shoes dirty, kicked up a little dust,” Ashley said. “One of these days I’m sure I’ll get in there and actually take a swing.”

Besides, Ashley said, it could have been worse.

“I had a dream last night that I got caught in the ivy and it swallowed me up,” Ashley said. “At least that didn’t happen.”

Darryl Strawberry said he suffered irritation on his right hand because he had not played since July 20, but added that it will not keep him on the bench. Strawberry hopes to play one of the three games this weekend on artificial turf in Pittsburgh.