Ishii Hits the Command Key

Six solid innings against the Colorado Rockies is nice, but if Kazuhisa Ishii is to prove he has recovered from the command problems that inflated his spring training earned-run average to Goodyear blimp proportions, he must also perform against teams more formidable than the expected National League West bottom feeders.

Not that Ishii or his teammates were complaining Friday after the left-hander limited the Rockies to one run and four hits during his season debut in the Dodgers’ 5-1 victory in front of a sellout crowd of 54,599 at Dodger Stadium.

“He had a very good outing for us,” Dodger Manager Jim Tracy said. “He wavered a little bit with some deep counts in the third and fourth [innings] but turned right back around and had real good fifth and sixth innings.

“That’s very encouraging where you see him rectify himself that quickly in midstream, something we hadn’t seen a whole lot of in the previous seasons.”

Ishii had made changes to his delivery and had trouble with his command throughout spring training, going 1-4 with a 10.88 earned-run average.

The early returns Friday were more encouraging as Ishii gave up Charles Johnson’s solo homer in the sixth inning and little else during an impressive 95-pitch performance. He issued four walks -- one intentional -- and struck out four while collecting his first victory since July 18.

“Of course I feel great,” Ishii said. “But I think I was kind of rushing my pitches at times. I still have things to work on.”

After recording their first two victories of the season in their final at-bat, the Dodgers needed no such heroics Friday as they took over sole possession of first place in their division for the first time since July 15, 2002. Adrian Beltre hit a two-run homer in the fourth and Alex Cora added a two-run triple in the sixth.

Dave Roberts established a career high with four stolen bases -- including the 100th of his career -- and Paul Lo Duca went two for four, including a run-scoring single in the first, to actually lower his batting average to a still-scorching .588.

The Dodgers also continued to receive stellar contributions from their bullpen, which has posted an ERA of 0.63 over the first four games. Wilson Alvarez pitched three scoreless innings, striking out six and recording his first save.

The Rockies always seem to bring out the best in the Dodgers, who have won eight consecutive games against their division rivals dating to last season. Colorado also has been kind to Ishii, who threw 5 2/3 shutout innings against the Rockies during his major league debut in April 2002 after experiencing another wild spring. Ishii matched a Los Angeles record with 10 strikeouts in that debut.

“It’s the same M.O. with him every time we face him,” Colorado Manager Clint Hurdle said. “Either we get him or we don’t, but there’s always people on.”

Ishii historically has been a fast starter, going 12-3 with a 2.96 ERA during April and May over his first two major league seasons. The trend continued Friday.

Roberts stole his 100th base in the first after reaching on a full-count walk and scored the Dodgers’ first run on Lo Duca’s two-out single to right. Roberts also stole bases in the third, fifth and sixth innings. It was the first time a Dodger stole four bases since Rudy Law accomplished the feat May 12, 1980, against the Chicago Cubs.

“I just wanted to come out after a day off and be extra aggressive,” said Roberts, who was limited to 107 games last season by hamstring and neck injuries. “Last year we had trouble with intensity after days off.”

Beltre put the Dodgers ahead, 3-0, in the fourth with his blast off Colorado starter Scott Elarton, who gave up five runs and five hits over 5 1/3 innings. Elarton walked five and struck out three while recording only one 1-2-3 inning.

Juan Encarnacion and Beltre drew consecutive walks in the sixth before Cora ripped his two-run triple to center that put the game out of reach.