DODGERS NOTEBOOK : BUTLER SET FOR FINAL RADIATION TREATMENT.

Brett Butler is scheduled to have his 32nd and final dose of radiation today. It began on June 17, three weeks after cancer surgery.

While alternative treatment will continue, the end of radiation treatments represents a hurdle for Butler.

``It's a small step,'' Butler said. ``But I know it'll be at least two weeks until I feel half-way decent.''

Butler is due to fly into Los Angeles tonight, and he will attend Tuesday night's game against the Florida Marlins. He also will have his right shoulder examined for nerve damage by Dr. Frank Jobe.

If nothing else, the near-daily grind of radiation is done, after more than six weeks.

``Part of me feels like it's been there a long time,'' he said. ``The other part is, let's go.''

No big deal: Darren Dreifort pitched on a major-league mound on Saturday night for the first time in more than two years, and afterward said there were no revelations. That is, he was not struck by the enormity of the moment.

Pitching coach Dave Wallace expressed all of the satisfaction.

``He's got a better breaking ball,'' Wallace said. ``And it looks like he's got better command. I know what he's made of. I know he's a helluva competitor, and he loves to be in this situation.''

Against the Houston Astros, Dreifort faced four hitters and retired them all, including two on strikeouts.

Dreifort, who in March 1995 had reconstructive elbow surgery, will not be used on consecutive days, according to Wallace.

Wallach report: In his first at-bat for the San Bernardino Stampede, a Dodgers' Single-A affiliate, Tim Wallach hit a solo home run. In his first two games, Wallach is 3 for 8 with four RBI. He was scheduled to take Sunday off.

The Dodgers signed Wallach on Thursday and assigned him to San Bernardino, with the agreement he would be brought up on or before next Monday.

Hall passes: Dodgers right-hander Darren Hall, on the disabled list since April 24, threw off a mound Sunday morning for the first time since his elbow surgery. Hall said he threw about 20 pitches at half speed, and that he felt strong.

``I didn't want to come down,'' Hall said.

His goal is to pitch again before the season is over, and he said that he probably would return to winter ball in order to be ready by spring training.

Also: Delino DeShields broke an 0-for-25 stretch with an infield single in the ninth inning. . . . What might have been Bill Russell's final batting order had Dave Hansen at third base, Todd Hollandsworth batting fifth, Raul Mondesi batting sixth and Mike Busch on the bench. Busch has no hits in his last 11 at-bats, with eight strikeouts. . . . Mike Piazza was 17 for 30 this season at the Astrodome, with 16 singles and a double.

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