Brown Back, but Offense Is Still Disabled

The good news for the Dodgers was that ace Kevin Brown returned from the disabled list Saturday and provided reason for optimism against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium.

The bad news was that the offense didn’t do enough again in a 3-1 loss to the Cardinals that extended Brown’s personal losing streak to four games.

Brown (10-5) labored on another humid day before 41,195, managing to work six solid innings after missing two starts because of a lower abdomen strain.

“I’m fine,” said Brown, coming off his seventh stint on the disabled list in five seasons in Los Angeles, including six times since March 2001.

“As far as I’m concerned, it’s not an issue.”

The National League’s worst offense was the issue.

The Dodgers produced only six hits, leaving the bases loaded in the fifth with Cardinal rookie right-hander Dan Haren (1-2) on the ropes. Cleanup batter Paul Lo Duca lined out to second baseman Bo Hart, and Haren screamed and pumped his fist after escaping with a 2-1 lead.

“Fastball away, hit it right on the button, couldn’t hit it any harder,” Lo Duca said. “It was just right at him.” Said Hart: “He hit it where they told me to play.”

The Dodgers wouldn’t have another baserunner.

Scott Rolen hit a solo home run (No. 19) in the seventh against reliever Guillermo Mota, and closer Jason Isringhausen’s efficient performance in the ninth capped three perfect innings from the St. Louis bullpen.

Isringhausen struck out Jeromy Burnitz, Adrian Beltre fouled out on the first pitch and pinch-hitter Daryle Ward grounded back to the mound as the Cardinals (50-47) won for the first time in five meetings with the Dodgers (51-45).

The Dodger winning streak ended at three games. For the fifth time this season, the Dodgers are a season-high 8 1/2 games behind the first-place San Francisco Giants in the NL West.

Getting Brown back from the disabled list usually provides a boost for the Dodgers, and there’s still time left, but they’ve got a lot of work to do.

“We know we’re far back [in the division], and there’s still the wild card, so we just have to try to win series,” right fielder Shawn Green said. “We just have to keep focusing on that.”

St. Louis took a 1-0 lead in the second as Edgar Renteria drove in Rolen with a sacrifice fly. In the third, J.D. Drew scored on Brown’s errant pickoff throw to first.

Alex Cora provided the Dodger run in the bottom of the inning with a two-out homer to right. After Haren retired the side in order in the fourth, the Dodgers tested him in the fifth.

Brown singled with one out and advanced to third on Jolbert Cabrera’s double down the left-field line. The Dodgers were on the edge of their seats as Brown ran, considering the 38-year-old right-hander suffered his latest injury going from first to third July 3 against the San Diego Padres.

With the infield in, Cora lined a ball down the right-field line that appeared to be foul by inches. Cora then struck out.

“You’ve got to put that ball in play in those situations,” Cora said, “especially with the way we play the game.”

Haren pitched around Green and walked him on four pitches with Lo Duca on deck. Lo Duca got the pitch he wanted, but Hart was in perfect position, making a leaping catch for the final out.

“I was hoping it would get over his head,” Lo Duca said. “It was right to the right of him. Bad luck.”

It was more than luck, Hart said.

“Scouting and positioning,” he said. “It’s being in the right spot at the right time.”

Brown hasn’t been in that spot recently.

He gave up only five hits and two runs (one earned), and has a 3.52 earned-run average in his last four starts, but he hasn’t won since June 17.

“I’m sure you could talk about 0-4 in the last four starts, but I had one bad game,” Brown said. “You get run support, you get things going your way, and you win games. When you don’t, you don’t win games.”