Brown Pulls Dodgers Out of Doldrums

The Dodgers needed something powerful Saturday night to jolt them out of a frustrating four-game funk.

Again, that’s exactly what Kevin Brown provided.

Reprising the role of a stopper, Brown continued one of the major leagues’ top comeback stories in a 3-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium.

The right-hander impressed a crowd of 35,520 while overwhelming the Brewers for the second time in as many starts, helping the Dodgers end a season-high losing streak at four games.

“There’s no question to me right now,” catcher Paul Lo Duca said, “he’s the best pitcher in the National League.”

Brown continued to make a persuasive argument with his eighth consecutive strong start. He gave up only six hits and had six strikeouts without a walk in eight innings while throwing 67 strikes in 100 pitches. Brown also doubled and scored in the seventh on Lo Duca’s one-out single against a drawn-in infield.

“Physically, I might be better than I was even in 1999 and 2000,” said Brown, who lowered his earned-run average from 2.24 to 2.02 and improved to 14-5 in his career against Milwaukee.

Brown (7-1) wasn’t as sharp Saturday as in Sunday’s 5-1 victory over Milwaukee at Miller Park -- but he was still too much for the Brewers. And then they had to face closer Eric Gagne.

Gagne uncharacteristically walked Geoff Jenkins, issuing only his sixth walk this season, after striking out Richie Sexson to start the ninth. But Gagne made it look easy again, getting Brady Clark on a grounder and striking out Wes Helms.

He remained perfect with 19 saves in as many opportunities, and the second-place Dodgers (31-24) remained 3 1/2 games behind the San Francisco Giants in the NL West. The Dodgers kept the focus on Brown.

“He’s back and more,” Gagne said. “His sinker ... he’s throwing hard and getting ahead of every hitter. He’s just amazing right now.

“With a losing streak, he comes in and just shuts the door. That’s why he’s Brownie. That’s why he has so much respect around here, and so much respect around the whole league.”

The Brewers (21-34) knew they were in trouble after Brown’s opening pitch.

“He was not as sharp as he was in Milwaukee last week, but he was good enough to shut us out,” Manager Ned Yost said. “If he’s on like that, you almost have to be lucky.”

Fred McGriff provided all the support Brown and Gagne would need with a two-out, two-run home run to right-center field in the third against starter Ruben Quevedo (0-2), who pitched well for six innings.

McGriff’s team-leading ninth homer -- and 487th of his career -- came after Shawn Green doubled down the first-base line to extend his hitting streak to 10 games, matching the Dodgers’ longest of 2003.

Left fielder Brian Jordan returned to the lineup after sitting out two games because of a bruised left hand, and the Dodgers also got good news on the defensive front. Although usually sure-handed second baseman Alex Cora committed a two-base error in the fifth when Royce Clayton’s grounder rolled through his legs, the Dodgers were spectacular defensively behind Brown and Gagne, turning two nifty double plays.

Cora, shortstop Cesar Izturis and third baseman Adrian Beltre, among the league’s best young fielders, made significant contributions in the field.

“If I had this kind of defense my whole career, I think I would have had a couple of more wins,” Brown said. “As a pitcher, it’s a lot easier when you have guys back there making those kind of plays.”

The Dodgers said Brown did the hard part.

“Right now, he’s on top of his game, and he’s getting better and better. That’s really the scary thing,” Cora said. “Every night he goes out there, it’s more impressive than the last time. After the game, it’s like we are right now, you just say, ‘Wow!’ ”