A BLISTERING PROBLEM DODGERS ROLL, BUT PROKOPEC HURTING DODGERS 9, PITTSBURGH 4.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

PITTSBURGH - When it comes to desire and heart on the mound, Luke Prokopec and Ismael Valdes are about as far apart as their native Australia and Mexico.

However, Prokopec's blister dilemma is worthy of comparisons to the years of frustration the Dodgers experienced with Valdes' epic battles.

The Dodgers remained in first place with a 9-4 victory Wednesday against Pittsburgh - their seventh consecutive win against the Pirates - as Eric Karros belted a three-run homer, but it's the plight of Prokopec that is center stage.

A starting rotation devastated by injuries already is facing a less severe one but a problem nonetheless.

Prokopec is likely to miss his next start because of an ever-present blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand, and it's getting worse. That injury contributed mightily to his second consecutive short outing.

It is hampering his slider, hurts terribly and affects his control - the rookie right-hander lasted 4 1/3 innings. Beyond that, Prokopec has pitched a combined 8 1/3 innings and allowed nine earned runs in his past two starts. A no-decision against Pittsburgh stretched his winless streak to 12 starts. He last won May 26.

And, boy, is it frustrating.

``I think it would wear on anyone,'' Prokopec said. ``That's just the way it goes. Some days you get wins, other days you don't. You go back over the last couple of weeks ... and you could easily be 10-6 and instead you're 6-6. That certainly plays a role mentally, especially since I've only been pitching a couple of years and not been through it too much.''

An off day Monday will allow the Dodgers to skip Prokopec's turn in the starting rotation, giving him nine days off before he would start Aug. 18 against the New York Mets. But the Dodgers might not make that official until they test one more alleged remedy.

``You take a silk cloth cover and put glue over that and it's not as hard as the acrylic, but I'm not a salon aficionado, so I don't know,'' Dodgers pitching coach Jim Colborn said. ``I'd like to try that. We have to get together and figure out something. Call in our Margarite salon or something.''

A new problem arose during this start. Not only is the blister an issue, but an acrylic nail used to aid the blister has become so hard it's caused the skin under Prokopec's natural nail to lift when he throws certain pitches.

Before Prokopec makes that next start, though, manager Jim Tracy said he'll talk to the 23-year-old rookie to make sure his mindset is correct.

``You go through growing pains with young pitchers,'' Tracy said.

``We saw what Eric Gagne has had to go through. I think Luke is feeling that a little bit now. And I also think that with his finger being the way it is, it's inhibiting him from using one of his best weapons on a regular basis, and that's his slider. That can also help to create additional problems. I think some additional rest for him is definitely warranted.''

Prokopec, who is 0-5 with a 5.72 ERA in his winless stretch, was pulled in favor of reliever Giovanni Carrara (2-1) after the Pirates rallied from a 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 lead in the fifth. A sacrifice fly by Craig Wilson made it 4-2, but the Dodgers (65-49) countered in a five-run sixth.

Gary Sheffield tied it with a two-run single to right field and Karros provided the Dodgers with the lead for good with a three-run homer off Pirates starter Jimmy Anderson (6-12). It's the third successive game Karros drove in the winning run.

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Photo:

(color) Dodgers rookie Luke Prokopec bounces the ball off his arm as he waits for manager Jim Tracy to remove him from Wednesday's game.

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Box: NL WEST