[0] OFF TO GOOD START DODGERS DON'T LET THIS ONE GET AWAY, OVERTAKE BREWERS DODGERS 2, MILWAUKEE1.

Byline: Steve Dilbeck Staff Writer

These are the games the Dodgers need to win - have to win, really - if they are to make this a pennant run to remember.

Home against a less-than-overpowering opponent. Already playing well. Ace Kevin Brown on the mound.

The Dodgers threatened to let another outstanding effort by Brown slip away, but after the Brewers tied Friday's game 1-1 with a run in the eighth, the Dodgers came back in the bottom of the inning on an Eric Karros run-scoring single to edge Milwaukee 2-1 before 36,074 at Dodger Stadium.

Early on, the Dodgers kept threatening to break the game open against shaky-looking rookie Paul Rigdon, and kept coming back empty.

Rigdon, a lanky right-hander acquired from the Indians last week in the trade for closer Bob Wickman, gave up a home run to Adrian Beltre in the second inning.

Otherwise, Rigdon kept successfully dodging trouble. The Dodgers stranded six runners in the first four innings. The big hit never seemed to come.

And then Rigdon settled down, holding the Dodgers to one single over his last three innings. He allowed the one run on five hits and three walks in his seven innings.

One run was looking like plenty, though, the way Brown was going.

Brown was coming off - by his standards - a poor outing against the Phillies and had lost two of his last four starts.

Yet back at Chavez Ravine, he was back to looking like the last guy anyone in the visiting dugout would want to oppose.

Brown already had a career-tying 12 strikeouts when he took the 1-0 lead into the eighth.

He had struck out five consecutive batters when catcher Raul Casanova opened the eighth with a ground-rule double. Pinch hitter Tyler Houston bounced out to second to advance Casanova to third, where James Mouton took over as a pinch runner.

With the infield in, Brown got the big out when Ron Belliard fouled out to Karros at first.

But on a full count, Marquis Grissom lined a single to left for his third hit. Mouton scored, the game was tied, and Brown was gone.

Brown allowed the one run on six hits. He had one walk to go with his 12 strikeouts.

After all that struggling against Rigdon, the Dodgers scored quickly against Juan Acevedo in the bottom of the inning.

Mark Grudzielanek opened with a single and went to second when Gary Sheffield grounded out to third.

Acevedo (1-4) intentionally walked Shawn Green to bring up Karros.

Karros had struck out on ball four with two runners on in the first inning, but this time he bounced a single up the middle - just beyond a bare-handed attempt by Acevedo and a diving Belliard at second.

The Dodgers missed an opportunity to add to their lead after Todd Hundley was walked intentionally to load the bases. Acevedo got Beltre on a soft liner to short, and Alex Cora to bounce out to first to end the inning.

For the Dodgers, though, just enough damage had been done.

Mike Fetters, who took over for Brown in the eighth, was left in to pitch the ninth, retiring the Brewers in order to earn the victory and raise his record to 4-1.

Prior to the game, manager Davey Johnson repeated he was abandoning his closer by committee routine and that Jeff Shaw was again his full-time stopper, but Fetters was left to finish it.

CAPTION(S):

4 photos, box

Photo: (1 -- color) Milwaukee pitcher Paul Ridgon stands on the mound as the Dodgers' Adrian Beltre circles the bases after hitting a home run.

(2) Alex Cora of the Dodgers takes a swipe as Milwaukee baserunner Jeromy Burnitz in the second inning Friday night.

Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press

(3) SNIDER

(4) SHEFFIELD

Box: Chasing Duke