Glynn Stifles the Dodgers

The Dodgers believe they can win every time Kevin Brown takes the mound.

If only they did more to make that happen.

Brown continued to do his part with another outstanding effort Monday night--but his teammates disappointed again in a 2-0 interleague loss to the Texas Rangers.

Brown (4-2) gave up only five hits and pitched his second complete game of the season against one of his former teams.

But the Rangers’ Ryan Glynn was even better.

The young right-hander limited the Dodgers to two singles in his first big-league appearance this season. John Wetteland worked a hitless ninth to earn his 16th save and extend the Ranger win streak the three before 34,709 at The Ballpark in Arlington.

The Dodgers (29-25) have dropped three of their last four. They are frustrated and especially upset about letting Brown down.

Again.

“It’s definitely disappointing with how Brownie is throwing,” said center fielder F.P. Santangelo, whose leadoff single in the sixth was the Dodgers’ first hit.

“He’s our ace, and you want to run through a wall for him. You love to play behind him because of how he goes out there and gives it everything he has every fifth day.

“It’s [tough] to see him frustrated with how great he’s pitching. It’s just really disappointing.”

For Brown too. He’s among the major league leaders in several categories but doesn’t have much to show for his work.

“I didn’t make that many bad pitches,” said Brown, who struck out nine without a walk. “A couple of ‘em I did give up hits on weren’t bad pitches. Tonight, I had to have been perfect.”

That has been the case often this season, but Brown isn’t focusing on himself.

“It doesn’t matter who’s pitching, losing has got to leave a bad taste in your mouth no matter the situation,” said Brown, who lowered his earned-run average to 2.45. “If someone out there has a good-luck charm they can send it care of the Dodgers.”

The Rangers (30-26) took a 1-0 lead in the sixth on Jason McDonald’s bloop, run-scoring double just inside the right-field line. Brown shattered McDonald’s bat with the pitch.

The Rangers scored their second run in the seventh on David Segui’s sacrifice fly. Rusty Greer led off with a double, advanced to third on Rafael Palmeiro’s single and scored on Segui’s fly ball to mid-center.

That was it for the Ranger attack, but the Dodgers had bigger problems with Glynn.

He was recalled Monday to pitch in place of scheduled starter Darren Oliver, who has a tired arm. Glynn made the most of the opportunity.

“I’m really proud of myself,” said Glynn, 6-2 with a 3.39 ERA at triple-A Oklahoma City this season. “I’m happy to get this opportunity. I wanted to prove to management and myself that I could pitch my kind of game.”

He mixed sharp sliders, curveballs and fastballs while keeping the Dodgers guessing.

Glynn struck out six and walked three.

Mark Grudzielanek singled to center in the sixth after Santangelo for the Dodgers’ other hit. Glynn retired the side in order in the second, third, fourth, seventh and eighth innings.

Gary Sheffield, Shawn Green and Eric Karros--the Nos. 3, 4 and 5 batters--were hitless in six at-bats combined against Glynn, with three walks.

Karros struck out swinging with runners on first and second in the first and sixth.

“You’ve got to tip your hat to that kid,” Manager Davey Johnson said of the 25-year-old pitcher, who started three games for the Rangers last season.

“He showed me three different pitches and pitched a heck of a ballgame. He handled the meat of my order pretty good.”

Not surprisingly, Texas Manager Johnny Oates was impressed too.

“He was very composed,” Oates said.

“That’s enough to make a manager want to see it again.”

*

SAN FRANCISCO: 5

ANGELS: 4

The Giants’ Barry Bonds hit two-out home run in the

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ninth. Page 3