DODGERS NOTEBOOK: GRUDZIELANEK SITS BUT SAYS HE'S OK.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

PHOENIX - With the Dodgers playing their most important series of the season, Dodgers second baseman Mark Grudzielanek wanted to get back in the lineup.

Grudzielanek was cleared to play Tuesday, but manager Jim Tracy decided not to start him Wednesday for a third consecutive game.

Grudzielanek, who pinch hit in the ninth inning Wednesay, was injured Sunday against the Angels when he was slammed in the back of the head by outfielder Brian Jordan's knee while chasing a fly ball to shallow right field.

``I have no idea what their thoughts are, being overcautious, I don't know,'' Grudzielanek said. ``I'm ready to go. This is a big series for us. It was a big series when we got here. It was an unfortunate accident. The first day we came here there was a question of whether I was going to be in there, and I was a little dizzy, and I was honest with them. Now, it's two days later and it's a big series for us and it would be nice to keep playing.

``You get in a situation like that, and you want to be in there. No question I want to be in there. It's a big game, a big-time team. That's what we work so hard for.''

Johnston said the team's flight to St. Louis after the game played into the decision. He didn't want Grudzielanek playing at night, taking a three- hour flight and then playing a twilight game today in what is expected to be a muggy, extremely hot St. Louis.

``The travel to St. Louis, that's all that I was told,'' Grudzielanek said. ``I find it hard to believe. What am I going to do?''

Grudzielanek also is frustrated because he believes his swing, absent much of the last month, was returning to form. Grudzielanek is batting .245 but was batting .368 (7 for 19) in his past six games.

``(Grudzielanek) could play, but I want to wait one more day,'' Tracy said. ``I heard these stories as far as the heat and humidity, and the fact that there are two day games in St. Louis. We're going to travel cross- country, get in at five o'clock in the morning and play at 5 p.m. I'm waiting another day.''

--Green likely derby watcher: Dodgers All-Star Shawn Green entered the day tied for fourth in the National League with 25 homers, enough to earn an invite into the popular home run derby Monday before the All-Star Game. However, Green said it is unlikely he will participate in it because of the jammed left thumb he suffered Saturday, which kept him out of the lineup Sunday and Monday.

``The only reason is the thumb,'' Green said. ``I would say it's doubtful I will do it. I'll give it a couple of days. If it improves a lot, that can change, but I would have to say it's doubtful.''

The interest in Green would be high considering he hit four homers in a game this season at Milwaukee's Miller Park, the site of Tuesday's game. But the Dodgers' medical staff doesn't want Green participating in the contest.

``I don't want him to,'' Johnston said. ``I don't think it's in his best interest to do the home run hitting contest. Just seeing the torque he puts on (the thumb) wouldn't be good.''

--Gagne honored: Closer Eric Gagne saved 11 games and had a 0.63 ERA in June, and for that became the second Dodgers player this season to be named baseball's pitcher of the month. Odalis Perez won the honor in April.

Gagne, who capped his month with his first All-Star selection, appeared in 13 games, pitched 14 1/3 innings, allowed seven hits, didn't issue a walk and struck out 24. He leads the major leagues with 30 saves and hasn't walked a batter in two months.

DODGERS vs. ST. LOUIS

Time: 3:10 p.m., Busch Stadium.

TV/Radio: Ch. 13; 1150-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: The Dodgers' final series before the All-Star break begins with LH Kazuhisa Ishii (11-4, 3.52 ERA) opposing Cardinals RH Travis Smith (1-0, 6.75). Ishii was sent ahead before the series finale against Arizona so he could rest rather than get into town at 5 a.m. He has struggled lately and lost his past two decisions, getting pounding for a career-high nine hits and five runs allowed in 3 2/3 innings against the Angels in his last start. Smith is 1-0 with a 6.92 ERA in five starts, his lone victory coming against Florida. Friday - Dodgers LH Odalis Perez (9-4, 2.56) vs. Cardinals RH Matt Morris (10-5, 3.27); Saturday - Dodgers RH Hideo Nomo (9-5, 3.28) vs. Cardinals RH Woody Williams (6-3, 2.39); Sunday - Dodgers LH Omar Daal (7-3, 3.39) vs. Cardinals LH Bud Smith (0-5, 7.18).

- Brian Dohn

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DODGERS vs. ST. LOUIS (see text)