Brown Takes the Bite Out of Arizona

He has pitched much better than his record indicates and provided stability during another turbulent time.

That’s what the Dodgers expect from Kevin Brown, who delivered a typically dominant and efficient performance Thursday night in a 4-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

He tossed his 17th career shutout and fourth complete game this season before 30,103 at Dodger Stadium. Brown (6-2) gave up four hits and struck out 10 without a walk.

The right-hander helped the Dodgers--who have several key players sidelined because of injuries--split the four-game series with the National League West leaders, whom they trail by three games. The Dodgers provided all the support Brown would need in a two-homer, three-run first inning.

Leadoff batter Todd Hollands worth sparked the team in his return to the lineup after sitting out 11 games because of a strained right hamstring.

Hollandsworth homered against Arizona starter Todd Stottlemyre (8-4), who was activated from the disabled list before the game. Hollandsworth also doubled and singled, going three for four.

Gary Sheffield hit a two-run blast--his team-leading 19th homer--after Mark Grudzielanek doubled. Brown had a three-run cushion and the Diamondbacks were in trouble.

The Dodgers had seen the show before--but it’s always fun for them.

“Brownie was something else,” said Manager Davey Johnson, whose team improved to 35-29. “He turned it up a notch and he raised the bar.

“They got [three] doubles off him, but they couldn’t get a sniff after that. He was filthy tonight and completely in command.”

Almost from the start.

Brown, who has three complete games in a row, gave up a leadoff double to Tony Womack and then got into a groove. Womack was stranded at third.

Kelly Stinnett doubled to lead off the third, but he was also stranded at third as Brown went on to retire 13 consecutive batters. And Brown retired seven in a row after Matt Williams doubled with one out in the seventh.

“I felt pretty good,” said Brown, who has not given up more than three earned runs in a start this season.

“I don’t know if you ever--or they are very few and far between--go out there and say, ‘I feel so good they’ve got no chance.’ It’s just a matter of trying to make do with what you’ve got that night.”

Brown lowered his earned-run average to 2.18--second best in the NL. He threw 81 strikes in 115 pitches in his first shutout since Sept. 4 last season against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

“I’m happy I didn’t have to hit against him,” said Dodger right fielder Shawn Green, whose eighth-inning single extended his streak of reaching base with either a hit or walk to 45 games in a row.

“When we went up by three, I was thinking we were in pretty good shape with Brownie out there. I think everyone in the stadium was feeling pretty good.”

Except the Diamondbacks, who dropped to 39-27.

“You can’t spot Kevin Brown three runs,” said Stottlemyre, who sat out the last three weeks because of tendinitis in his pitching elbow.

“Brown is up there with Pedro [Martinez] and Randy [Johnson]. You just can’t spot him that many runs and expect to win.”