DODGERS NOTEBOOK: REST COMES SOON FOR PIAZZA.

Byline: Kevin Acee / Daily News Staff Writer

Mike Piazza will sit out one game of today's doubleheader at Pittsburgh and likely play the rest of the four-game series. After four interleague games at Dodger Stadium, Piazza will get some much-needed rest when the Dodgers travel to Texas, where he can just play DH.

The Dodgers also have off days before and after that series.

``I'm actually looking forward to the first week in September,'' Piazza said. ``It's like a vacation.''

Piazza has caught 111 games. Depending on how close the division race continues to be, he will likely catch around 135 games, a tad fewer than the 144 he caught last year.

``I've got my aches and pains,'' Piazza said. ``I know I've got more rest this year, with the pull and the DH. . . . But once you get over the century mark (in games caught) it's pretty hard.''

Piazza got some rest after he strained his left hamstring rounding first base on July 20 in Atlanta and was forced to miss four games. He also was the Dodgers' designated hitter in four interleague games at Oakland, Seattle and Anaheim.

Also: The Dodgers completed their first three-game sweep at Veterans Stadium since 1988, the year of their last World Series title. . . . The Dodgers finished the season series 10-1 against the Phillies. Heading into a four-game series at Pittsburgh, the Dodgers are 7-0 in Pennsylvania this year and 16-2 overall against the teams from this state. . . . Otis Nixon got his first extra-base in 11 games with the Dodgers with a sixth-inning double. He proceeded to score for the first time in the past six games. . . . Eric Young has scored in five of his six games as a Dodgers. The Dodgers have won all five of those games. . . . In his first game for Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday, Wilton Guerrero was 5 for 6 with a stolen base. Eddie Murray, also playing his first game for the Dukes, was 0 for 3 with three strikeouts and two walks.

DODGERS TODAY

Game time: First game starts at 2:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: Channel 5 (joined in progress at 4:30 p.m.); KABC-AM (790); KWKW-AM (1330, Spanish).

Matchup: The Dodgers and Pirates play a doubleheader at Three Rivers Stadium to make up an April 12 rainout. This is the Dodgers' second doubleheader in five days. The four-game series continues Tuesday and Wednesday and concludes a 10-game road trip.

In the first game, Dodgers RHP Ramon Martinez (6-3, 3.42) faces Pirates RHP Jason Schmidt. Martinez's first start back from a 9-1/2-week stay on the DL (rotator-cuff tear) Wednesday was rained out after three innings.

In the second game, Dodgers RHP Tom Candiotti (9-5, 3.42) faces Pirates LHP Chris Peters (2-2, 4.24). Candiotti, happy to start on three days' rest since his knuckleball enables him to recover quickly, lost Thursday for just the second time in his past six starts.

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