[0] BROWN HELPS HIS OWN CAUSE DODGERS ACE HAS BIG HIT IN VICTORY OVER LOWLY PHILLIES DODGERS 11, PHILA. 4.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

Usually, it's Kevin Brown's right arm and his moxie that puts the Dodgers in position to win. But there are those rare occasions when lumber plays a part.

In an unusually challenging evening on the mound, Brown's biggest blow was a two-run single that keyed a five-run sixth inning as the Dodgers broke a two-game losing streak with a 11-4 win against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday at Dodger Stadium.

Dodgers catcher Todd Hundley continued his offensive assault with his first two-homer game of the season to go with four RBI. He has 13 homers and 32 RBI.

Shortstop Kevin Elster hit his first run since returning from the disabled list Sunday and Todd Hollandsworth had a pair of hits and an RBI.

However, it's not as if Brown (4-1) didn't contribute in his normal manner. The Dodgers ace pitched seven innings and won his third straight decision, though it was hardly with the ease he bested Florida five days earlier.

Brown allowed three runs in the third inning, two coming on Rob Ducey's homer to right field, and then saw the Phillies take a 4-3 lead in the sixth when Kevin Jordan, who reached on third baseman Adrian Beltre's two- base error, scored on Tom Prince's squeeze bunt.

In total, Brown allowed a season-high four runs - three earned, also a season-high - on eight hits and matched his season-best eight strikeouts.

It didn't matter against against the National League's worst team, though.

The Dodgers rallied in the bottom of the sixth inning, and Brown was in the middle of it.

The inning began when Mark Grudzielanek reached on Jordan's throwing error from third. It seemed harmless when Gary Sheffield and Shawn Green were retired, but Eric Karros doubled off the top of the right field wall to tie it 4-4.

Karros argued the call because he thought the ball hit something behind the wall and caromed back onto the field. Manager Davey Johnson also came out and discussed the issue with first-base umpire Greg Gibson, but to no avail.

Hundley, who hit his 12th homer of the season in the fourth, was intentionally walked and Beltre made up for his error with a single to center to score Karros with the go-ahead run.

Beltre went to second on the throw, and Elster was intentionally walked to load the bases for Brown, who had been 1 for 15 without an RBI this season. However, Brown hit starter Paul Byrd's second pitch into left field to score two runs and give the Dodgers a 7-4 lead. Hollandsworth singled in the final run of the inning when he lined a shot off shortstop Desi Relaford. The ball bounded into center field, and Elster raced home to put the Dodgers ahead 8-4.

The Phillies were poised to cut into the lead in the seventh, but with two on and one out, Brown got Pat Burrell to ground into a double play.

In the bottom of the inning, the Dodgers pounded Phillies pitching again for three runs. Hundley hit his second two-run homer of the night, this one off reliever Terry Brock, marking the 11th time in his career he's done it. The last time Hundley accomplished it was Aug. 18, 1999, against Florida. Elster pushed the lead to 11-4 with a solo homer.

< DODGERS VS. PHILADELPHIA

Time: 7:10 p.m., at Dodger Stadium.

TV/Radio: Channel 5; 1150-AM, KWKW-AM (1330 Spanish).

Dodgers right-hander Darren Dreifort (3-1, 3.33 ERA) makes his 10th start, and though he's thrown well his record doesn't reflect it. Dreifort allowed two runs on six hits in eight innings in his last outing, but he didn't figure in the decision. Against the Phillies, Dreifort is 4-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 11 outings. He was 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA last season. Phillies right-hander Robert Person (4-2, 3.24) allowed one run inseven innings in a win against Colorado last Sunday. He's 3-1 in his last five starts.

- Brian Dohn

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

The Phillies' Kevin Jordan was safe on this play but Adrian Beltre and the Dodgers had their way on this day.

Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press

Box: DODGERS VS. PHILADELPHIA (See text)