There’s Pain, and Gain

In a September clubhouse, where the victories linger in Eric Karros’ back, in Mark Grudzielanek’s finger, in Kevin Brown’s elbow--though nothing like the losses can--the Dodgers found themselves another day into the division race.

They played another day closer to October on Sunday night, because Karros has found something in his back, or in his bat, with which he can play. And because Grudzielanek homered, despite the chip fracture. And because Brown pitched five unremarkable innings and no more.

The Dodgers defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, 7-3, at Dodger Stadium, and so are three games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Western Division and 11/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs in the National League wild-card standings.

Brown, the staff ace, threw 94 pitches in five innings, and of course he wouldn’t like it. He allowed six hits and three runs, and walked four batters, only one of which scored.

There were parts that were very good-his final pitch, a breaking ball that struck out Jim Edmonds to end the fifth, and the 11 ground-ball outs, and the occasional defensive swings by the Cardinals.

He also hit a lot of bat barrels, and if he wasn’t pitching defensively, then he was merely way off with his control, and he’d probably debate which was worse in the long run.

All in all, though, it wasn’t awful for a man pitching with a torn tendon in his pitching elbow, and he got the Dodgers into the sixth inning with a three-run lead.

“If people expect him to come back throwing 95, 96 (mph), putting people away, that’s not fair to Kevin,” Karros said.

Brown pitched OK and left the explanations for his manager and his teammates, the kind of thing they don’t seem to mind.

If his elbow hurts, he’s not letting on, other than the fact he didn’t throw as hard as he has, and generally didn’t throw it where he wanted. Dodger Manager Jim Tracy was not alarmed. In fact, he said Brown’s mediocre outing was predictable, in light of the month-and-a-half of inactivity, followed by hard innings in a division race.

“He wasn’t satisfied with his performance tonight,” Tracy said.

Brown (9-4) reached his 90-pitch limit with an out remaining in the fifth inning, and Tracy allowed him the Edmonds strikeout, if only to qualify for the victory.

“I think what’s important for Kevin Brown is to pitch well for the club, to keep us in the game, to give us a chance to win,” Tracy said. “Because of Kevin Brown, what he’s about, it was important for me and his teammates that he finish the fifth inning.”

Still, Tracy said, “He wasn’t vintage Kevin Brown at any time tonight.”

He was, however, afterward, when he rushed from the clubhouse.

“He definitely was not his best,” said Grudzielanek, who had three hits, including a two-run homer in the fourth inning. “He definitely looked a little tired. I think he was sluggish. His ball was moving all over the place and his velocity was down.”

Had he stayed behind, Brown might have talked about the run support-four in the third inning, when the second of Karros’ three singles drove in two runs, and two more in the fourth.

Or, he could have fawned over the defense, which turned his ground balls into simple outs.

Or, he might have raved about Karros, whowas eight for 18 in the series.

Karros, of course, is far too hardened to get misty over 18 at-bats. He’s batting .238.

“I swung the bat well the last couple games,” he said. “We’ll see where it takes us.

“Everyone’s had a theory. I’m old or I have no bat speed, whatever. You know what? I’ve been in a slump, bottom line. Mechanically, I got into horrendous habits.”

Tracy sat him down some, as he did Marquis Grissom on Sunday. The three-hit game was Karros’ first in three months.

“It’s just what I’ve said all along,” Tracy said. “I don’t quit on my players. A guy who’s done it for a decade will find a way to find it again. I believe he has.

“I think he’s got better bat speed than he had a week ago.

“He’s got better pitch recognition and he’s staying behind the ball, trusting his hands. The life in his bat is back. You can see it when the ball comes off his bat.”

So the Dodgers strike out for 12 road gamesto Colorado, St. Louis, San Diego and San Francisco, beginning Tuesday.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

NL WILD CARD

*--*

W L GB Chicago 76 60 -- San Francisco 76 61 1/2 Dodgers 75 62 11/2 St. Louis 73 63 3 Philadelphia 72 64 4

*--*