[0] BROWN JUST WHAT DODGERS ORDERED : DODGERS 5, HOUSTON 2.

Byline: Brian Dohn Daily News Staff Writer

Kevin Brown demonstrated why he is Kevin Brown.

The Dodgers needed innings. He provided them. They needed a stabilizing force. He provided that.

And, most importantly, the Dodgers needed a win to avoid their longest losing streak of the season. Brown also delivered that.

Brown allowed four hits and struck out eight in eight innings as the Dodgers beat the Houston Astros 5-2 Wednesday at Dodger Stadium to end a three-game losing streak.

In the process, Dodgers first baseman Eric Karros ended a four-week home run drought with a two-run homer in the fourth.

Houston's Jeff Bagwell hit two solo homers for the Astros, but it wasn't enough.

Brown won his third straight and improved his record to 5-2. Since getting battered for five runs on opening day, Brown has allowed 13 earned runs in his past 58 innings, a 2.02 ERA. The right-hander has been even better at home. Since yielding those five runs to Arizona to begin the season, Brown has allowed two earned runs in his past 32 innings at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers (21-18) are 6-3 in games Brown starts, and Brown is 3-0 following a Dodgers loss.

The only run Brown allowed to the Astros came via the home run. Bagwell hit a solo shot to right field with one out in the fourth. It was his second homer of the series and the seventh one Brown surrendered this season after allowing eight homers with the Padres last season.

With the way the Dodgers' starters not named Brown have struggled this season, Brown's outing was not only welcomed, but anticipated. While the rest of the Dodgers battled to pitch into the seventh inning, Brown's completed at least seven innings in his last three starts. He's allowed one run in each of those outings.

He was also aided by a couple of early runs from the offense as the Dodgers took a 1-0 lead on Gary Sheffield's sacrifice fly.

The Dodgers increased their lead to 2-0 in the second inning. Karros (3 for 4) singled with one out, moved to second on a ground-out and scored on Mark Grudzielanek's sharp single to left.

Brown didn't allow a hit and struck out five through three innings, made one of his only mistakes to Bagwell with one out in the fourth. Bagwell hit Brown's first pitch out to right field to pull the Astros within 2-1. That was all Houston would get against Brown, as he improved to 2-2 with a 1.60 ERA in six career starters against the Astros.

The Dodgers responded immediately off Houston starter and loser Shane Reynolds, who dropped to 6-3 after allowing four runs in seven innings.

Todd Hundley singled to center with one out in the fourth to set up Karros' first homer in 77 at-bats. Karros hit a 1-0 pitch into the Dodgers' bullpen to give them a 4-1 advantage. It was Karros' fifth homer of the season and first since April 24 against St. Louis.

The Astros tried to chip away at Brown late in the game without success. Reynolds led off the sixth with a single but was erased on a double play.

Bagwell began the seventh by drawing his second walk - the only two Brown issued - and stole second with one out. But Brown got Carl Everett to fly to right and Bill Spiers to ground to second to end the inning.

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2 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color) Gary Sheffield contributed a sacrifice fly in the first inning Wednesday to give the Dodgers an early 1-0 lead.

(2) Houston's Bill Spiers makes a running catch in the second. Eric Karros scored on the play.

Gus Ruelas/Daily News