Brown Rights Dodger Ship

So what if it took a couple of former Florida Marlins for the Dodgers to beat the current Florida Marlins. A win’s a win, right? Especially if it halts a three-game losing streak.

With Kevin Brown providing stellar pitching and Gary Sheffield the necessary offense, the Dodgers began their seven-game homestand Monday night with a 1-0 win over Florida in front of 20,807 at Dodger Stadium.

Brown (5-1) won his fifth consecutive decision with eight innings of two-hit ball, striking out a season-high 10 batters, which also equals a season high by any Dodger pitcher. Brown also walked two in his 113 pitches, 76 strikes, and didn’t give up his first hit until there were two outs in the sixth inning. In the process, Brown lowered his National League-leading earned-run average to 1.31.

He was also nailed in the left leg, above the knee, on a comebacker by the Marlins’ Cliff Floyd in the fourth but walked it off and, according to Dodger Manager Jim Tracy, got better after the incident.

Sheffield, meanwhile, hit a sixth-inning leadoff home run into the left-field pavilion off Marlin starter A.J. Burnett. Sheffield’s team-leading ninth homer of the season came on a 1-and-0 fastball.

Brown and Sheffield were teammates on the Marlins’ 1997 World Series title team.

“There’s a lot of good ones [former Marlins] out there and we always seem to run into them,” Marlin Manager John Boles said, “people like Moises Alou [of the Houston Astros] and tonight Sheffield and Brown.”

Said Brown: “If somebody wants to volunteer and take this bull’s-eye off me that I’ve been wearing for the past 13 years, that would be great,” Brown said. “Unfortunately, I think it’s tattooed on me.”

In his last 15 outings, Brown had just two losses, going 8-2 over that span.

“But you gotta give A.J. credit, too,” Brown said. “Fortunately, Sheff took advantage of one of his mistakes.”

Burnett, who was activated from the disabled list just before the game and making his first start of the season, impressed in his 2001 debut.

He suffered the loss despite only giving up one run on three hits in six innings. Burnett, who was recovering from a stress fracture in his right foot, struck out seven and walked five in his 102 pitches, 51 strikes.

“The way they were both throwing,” Boles said, “I thought a home run would decide it . I was just hoping it would be for us.”

The Dodgers, coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of the Chicago Cubs, threatened in the third inning.

With two outs and Tom Goodwin on second after a one-out single to right field, Burnett walked Sheffield and Shawn Green to load the bases for Eric Karros.

Florida pitching coach Rich Dubee visited the mound and must have said something inspiring as Burnett struck out Karros looking on a nasty curveball to get out of the jam.

After Brown took the Floyd line drive off his left quadriceps muscle, Tracy and Dodger assistant athletic trainer Matt Wilson paid a mound visit to check on Brown.

“There was none [conversation],” Tracy said. “He’s a guy, really, when it’s his day to pitch, if you want to say ‘Hello,’ you wait until the next day and say it twice.

“He’s a nice guy to have when you have a little fire going and you have to put it out. If there’s a better competitor in baseball, I don’t know who it is.”

The Marlins got their first hit of the night in the sixth.

With two out, Luis Castillo hit a high-hopper up the middle that was fielded cleanly by Dodger second baseman Mark Grudzielanek. But the speedy Castillo beat Grudzielanek’s throw by a half-step. The crowd howled in protest at first-base umpire Fieldin Culbreth’s call, insisting that Castillo was out and Brown’s no-hit bid was still intact. But television replays backed Culbreth’s call.

Florida’s Alex Gonzalez would later single cleanly up the middle in the eighth inning.

Goodwin had two hits and a walk for the Dodgers, who have won six in a row at home, and closer Jeff Shaw pitched a perfect ninth for his NL-leading 10th save.

*

INSIDE

ROOKIE INSPIRATION

Shawn Wooten, a rookie at age 28, gives the Angels power and a fresh perspective after being in the minors for eight years. D4

TWO-HITTER FOR PERSON

Right-hander Robert Person pitched the Phillies to a 5-0 victory over the Astros at Houston. D3