BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : Piazza Will Not Rest During Stretch

Catcher Mike Piazza lounged in the clubhouse before Monday’s game, relaxed on the bench during it, and was planning to have a fancy steak dinner in Brooklyn afterward.

Piazza realized that he better savor every moment. It will be his last day off the rest of the season, Dodger Manager Bill Russell said.

“You don’t ever want to give him a day off,� Russell said, “but you have to be realistic. The guy is human. But there probably will be no more days off the rest of the year except for the days we don’t play, especially for a player of Piazza’s stature.�

This will mean that Piazza, who has played in 123 games, will play the final 25 games--including three day games after night games. He would wind up with 148 games played, one shy of his career high of 149 games in his 1993 rookie season.