Brown Puts Doubts to Rest

Kevin Brown came out throwing and swinging Sunday against the Colorado Rockies, laying to rest any doubts that the veteran right-hander is fully recovered from elbow surgery.

With his fastball registering 96 mph at times, Brown rebounded from his rocky opening-day start and devastated the Rockies from the mound and at the plate in a 6-4 victory before 28,452 at Dodger Stadium that completed a three-game sweep.

Brown (1-1) gave up four hits, struck out five and did not issue a walk in seven brilliant shutout innings. He threw 79 pitches, 57 for strikes, and faced one batter over the minimum. Ben Petrick, who hit a double in the third inning, was the only runner to reach second base.

Brown not only outpitched Colorado left-hander Mike Hampton (0-2), he also outhit the ace of the Rockies, which is no small feat. Last season, Hampton batted .291 and tied a National League record for pitchers with seven home runs.

But it was Brown who delivered the big hits Sunday.

He doubled and scored a run in the fourth inning, hit his second career home run into the left-field pavilion against Hampton in the sixth and drove in a run with a single against Mike James in the seventh.

Brown, a career .120 hitter, equaled last season’s hit total.

“It’s easier when you can pick up a bat and not feel like your arm is going to fall off,” said Brown, who underwent surgery to repair a torn flexor muscle in his elbow last Sept. 27.

“Beyond that, I make no boasts.”

All in all, it was a solid day’s work for a pitcher who gave up seven runs and nine hits in four innings against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday. Brown’s performance followed outstanding efforts by Andy Ashby and Kazuhisa Ishii as the Dodgers prepare for their first trip, which begins Tuesday at San Francisco.

“The key when you have a bad outing is to try not to have another one,” Brown said. “It’s not about strength, it’s about timing. And at times, yes, my timing was better today.”

Brown was replaced by Paul Quantrill at the start of the eighth inning with the Dodgers leading, 6-0.

The Rockies scored four runs in the inning and had the tying run at the plate after Benny Agbayani singled to center against Eric Gagne with two out in the ninth.

But Gagne got Terry Shumpert to hit a fly ball to center field for his first save.

It was a noteworthy achievement for a young pitcher the Dodgers hope will emerge as their closer.

The game, though, was dominated by Brown.

“It was like he was in midseason form rather than a guy who is still fresh from surgery,” said catcher Chad Kreuter, who made his first start of the season and threw out two runners attempting to steal second. “He pitched today. He didn’t go out and throw and rely on movement.”

Kreuter’s starting assignment was one of several moves made by Dodger Manager Jim Tracy, who juggled the lineup for the second consecutive game.

“The bench guys need to get their at-bats,” Tracy said.

“I’m not going to burn guys out in April.”

Center fielder Dave Roberts got the day off and shortstop Cesar Izturis moved into the leadoff spot and went two for five and scored a run. Second baseman Mark Grudzielanek moved up from eighth to second in the order and went one for four, drove in a run and also scored a run. Marquis Grissom made his first start in center field and went two for four with a run batted in.

Paul Lo Duca, starting in place of Eric Karros at first base, went two for five.

Lo Duca, who caught Brown against the Giants, said after the opening-day loss that he would not be surprised if Brown rebounded by throwing a one-hitter in his next start.

Brown, making his 400th start, came close.

“He’s our ace and always has been our ace,” Lo Duca said. “He showed everybody why today.”