DODGERS NOTEBOOK: AILING SHEFFIELD TO SERVE SUSPENSION.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

Gary Sheffield, sidelined a second day with flu symptoms, decided to drop the appeal on the five-game suspension for his involvement in the May 16 brawl at Chicago's Wrigley Field.

Sheffield, so ill that doctors advised him to stay home Wednesday, probably wouldn't have played today in the series finale against Montreal. So with a doubleheader Friday in Chicago, Sheffield can be back in the lineup Sunday.

Sheffield, second to the Cubs' Sammy Sosa with 40 home runs, was scheduled to have his appeal heard Monday in Milwaukee by commissioner Bud Selig.

``I'm not a doctor so I don't know how long he would have been out,'' Dodgers general manager Kevin Malone said. ``But we need to head into September without this situation still lingering. We have (37) games left and we need to start winning games.''

Entering Wednesday, Sheffield had missed six games this season. Tuesday's 14-6 victory over Montreal was the Dodgers' first win without him. Sheffield's condition has improved, but Malone called his agent Jim Neader to discuss having Sheffield serve his suspension. The agent agreed and the appeal was dropped. Tom Goodwin started in left Wednesday.

--It's official: Ben Diggins, the hard-throwing University of Arizona right-hander selected 17th overall by the Dodgers in last June's draft, said he is glad to be signed after more than two months of negotiating.

``My mom was pretty worried,'' said Diggins, who agreed to a $2.2 million signing bonus. ``I had been drafted by St. Louis as a sandwich pick and didn't sign. She thought I was going to get blackballed if I didn't sign.''

The 6-foot-7, 240-pound Diggins was 10-4 with a 3.83 ERA in 17 games last season for the Wildcats. He began to tire in the second half of the season and has not pitched since May. He will be limited to throwing on the side at Class-A San Bernardino until the instructional league begins in early October in Arizona.

--On the DL: The Dodgers bench got whacked pretty hard Tuesday when shortstop Kevin Elster and F.P. Santangelo were placed on the 15-day disabled list.

As expected, Elster went on the DL with a strained left hamstring. The usually sure-handed Elster has made five errors in the past month that led to six unearned runs.

To take his place on the roster, right-hander Mike Judd has been called up from Triple-A Albuquerque. Judd made one start for the Dodgers on July 14 and lost to Pittsburgh. Manager Davey Johnson said the move was made as insurance for Friday's doubleheader in Chicago. Erratic left-hander Carlos Perez will start the second game after pitching in relief the past three weeks.

Santangelo injured the ulnar ligament in his left thumb diving for a ball Tuesday night. He will have his hand in a cast for two weeks and spend a third week doing rehab.

DODGERS vs. MONTREAL

Time: 1:10 p.m., at Dodger Stadium

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net 2; 1150-AM, 610-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish)

Matchup:The Dodgers close out their four-game series against Montreal when Chan Ho Park (12-8, 3.81) faces right-hander Javier Vazquez (8-5, 4.01). Park is coming off a complete-game victory Saturday against the New York Mets.

- Matt McHale

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 2 boxes

Photo: (1) SNIDER

(2) SHEFFIELD

Box: Chasing Duke

(2) Dodgers vs. Montreal (see text)