Brown to Miss Start Because of Injury

Kevin Brown will miss his next start after returning to Los Angeles on Sunday to undergo further tests on his sore neck, and setup man Terry Adams will take Brown’s spot in the rotation.

Physicians Frank Jobe and Luga Podesta will examine Brown, who has an inflamed nerve in his neck, today at the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic in Culver City.

Adams is scheduled to make his first career start Tuesday against the division-leading Arizona Diamondbacks in the second game of a four-game series at Bank One Ballpark.

Manager Jim Tracy used every reliever except Adams in Sunday’s 9-8, 10-inning victory over the Houston Astros at Enron Field.

“We held on to him as long as we could, but we were not going to let this game get away,” Tracy said. “We would have used him if we needed him.

“If we would have had to adjust to a situation, where he may have had to be used, we would have adjusted our course a little bit. We were fortunate enough to get it done before we had to get to him.”

After starting the season 5-1 with a 1.09 earned-run average, Brown is 1-2 with a 7.16 ERA in his last three starts.

He has given up 24 hits, 13 earned runs and walked eight in 16 1/3 innings.

Tracy said the Dodgers must play well against the Diamondbacks.

“Is it life or death? No,” said Tracy, whose team trails Arizona by three games. “But is it important to play well in that series? There’s no question about it.

“I’ve been talking about what a great job we’ve done not digging a big hole for ourselves. We’re in a situation where if we play well in that series, we won’t put ourselves in that position.”

Second baseman Mark Grudzielanek agrees.

“Every series against our division is big, but we have to get something started now,” Grudzielanek said. “We’re not playing well on the road, we definitely have to pick it up and do some things, and they’re playing well.

“We have to go in there and take care of business.”

Astro closer Billy Wagner left in the ninth inning because of a strained left elbow. Wagner, who missed most of last season after elbow surgery, will have an MRI today. . . . Dodger infielder Chris Donnels will meet the team in Arizona and will probably be activated from the disabled list during the series with the Diamondbacks.

ON DECK

Opponent--Arizona Diamondbacks, four games.

Site--Bank One Ballpark.

Tonight--7.

TV--Fox Sports Net 2 on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday; Channel 5 on Thursday.

Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

Records--Dodgers 31-25, Diamondbacks 34-22.

Record vs. Diamondbacks--3-3.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

CHAN HO PARK

(6-4, 2.78 ERA)

vs.

DIAMONDBACKS’

ARMANDO REYNOSO

(1-4, 5.40 ERA)

Update--The Dodgers acknowledge this is a key series. They have struggled on the road, and the first-place Diamondbacks have won nine in a row. Park, among the league leaders in many categories, is 0-3 with a 4.13 earned-run average on the road. The right-hander is 4-3 with a 3.52 ERA in nine games against Arizona. Reynoso is 0-4 with a 7.59 ERA at Bank One Ballpark. He is 5-2 with a 4.31 ERA against the Dodgers.

Tuesday, 7 p.m.--Terry Adams (2-2, 5.10) vs. Robert Ellis (4-2, 4.71).

Wednesday, 7 p.m.--Luke Prokopec (6-1, 3.67) vs. Curt Schilling (9-1, 2.76).

Thursday, 1:30 p.m.--Darren Dreifort (3-4, 3.99). Diamondback starter to be determined.