BASEBALL: DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Hershiser Feels ‘Great’

Orel Hershiser said his right shoulder felt “great,� Thursday, one day after throwing 86 pitches in his first major league appearance in 13 months since undergoing reconstructive shoulder surgery.

“It feels as good or better than it did after any of my minor league starts,� said Hershiser, who gave up four runs and nine hits in four innings in an 8-2 loss to the Houston Astros. “Everything is great. I’m ready to get back to being just a normal guy.�

Hershiser was able to complete his usual day-after weights and stretching workout, and said he would probably throw on the side Saturday in preparation for his next start, Tuesday at St. Louis.

“Do I finally feel like a player yet? I don’t know,� Hershiser said. “But I hope a month down the road I get into a routine where the answer to that question is an easy one.�

Hershiser admitted that he was affected by the emotion surrounding his first start, particularly in the first inning, when he gave up four runs.

“I wish I could have gone out for the starting introductions, then gone back in the dugout and sat down for a while,� Hershiser said. “I was not aggressive at all in the first inning, probably because I was in a state of shock.�

But Hershiser said he felt good enough to throw more than 86 pitches.

“If anything, I underdid it,� Hershiser said.

In more ways than one, Hershiser proved Thursday that he was human. He admitted that after the game, he toasted his comeback with a glass of champagne.

The Dodgers have told catcher Barry Lyons that they would make every attempt to satisfy his demand for a trade.

Lyons was demoted to triple-A Albuquerque Wednesday when Mike Sharperson came off the disabled list. Lyons essentially lost his job earlier this week when Hershiser returned, because the Dodgers decided to keep 11 pitchers instead of the usual 10.