DODGERS NOTEBOOK: IZTURIS BACK IN ACTION.

Byline: VINCENT BONSIGNORE Staff Writer

Cesar Izturis returned to the Dodgers after missing the past four games in Arizona while his wife, Liliana, gave birth to their second child.

Izturis, who started at third base Friday against St. Louis, was originally expected to miss just two games, but when minor complications arose from Liliana's Cesarean section Sunday, he decided to stay with her longer than expected.

Liliana was released from the hospital late Thursday afternoon, which eliminated any possibility of him joining the Dodgers until Friday, when they opened a nine-game homestand.

``Anyone who has a family will understand me staying with my wife,'' Izturis said.

``It's a situation where you really have no choice. I had to be there. I wanted to play and help my team, obviously, but I had to do what I had to do.''

Izturis said if the Dodgers were playing at home, he would have played in every game.

``But with us playing on the road, there was just no way,'' he said.

Duncan disciplined: Dodgers first-base coach Marino Duncan was suspended two games for going onto the field after getting ejected Monday against Arizona.

And he wasn't happy about it. In fact, he wanted to pursue an appeal on the grounds he never said anything to warrant the original ejection from umpire Angel Hernandez, only to learn the appeal process isn't an option for managers or coaches.

Hernandez tossed Duncan for yelling something from the Dodgers' dugout.

``But I never said anything,'' Duncan said. ``It's a tough situation because I don't feel like I did anything.''

Duncan is allowed to carry out his typical pregame duties, but must be out of uniform and out of the dugout during his suspension.

Dave Jauss will coach firstbase in Duncan's absence.

Say Shea: The Dodgers were believed to have expressed preliminary interest in acquiring infielder Shea Hillenbrand, who was picked up by San Francisco late Friday night to play first base after being designated for assignment by the Blue Jays following an altercation with manager John Gibbons.

Also: The Dodgers entered Friday's game as the only team in the majors that hasn't won an extra-inning game (0-5), after going 7-5 last year. They have never gone through an entire season with fewer than three extra-inning victories since moving from Brooklyn to Los Angeles in 1958. They were 3-5 in 1978.

Associated Press contributed