ADAMS' ROUTINE FINE WITH DODGERS PITCHER BATTLES MARINERS DODGERS 2, SEATTLE 1.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

The Chicago Cubs were grooming right-hander Terry Adams to be their closer but did not have the starting pitchers to get to that point in a game, yet they never thought of making him a starter.

The Dodgers sent Carlos Perez or Orel Hershiser or somebody's uncle's second cousin's brother to the mound last season in hopes of finding answers to a depleted rotation, but Adams' name never surfaced.

So perhaps rookie Dodgers manager Jim Tracy's best move this season took place months before he filled out a lineup card, when he spoke with Adams about working as a starter in spring training. Just in case.

Indeed, the Dodgers need him.

Stuffed into the rotation because of injuries, Adams delivered his best start to date Saturday. He pitched seven strong innings and the Dodgers beat the high-powered Seattle Mariners 2-1 on Adrian Beltre's one-out home run in the ninth off reliever Jose Paniagua at Dodger Stadium.

Adams, making his seventh career start, allowed three hits to a club batting .284, second-highest in the American League. The Mariners lead their league in scoring, but the only run Adams allowed came on John Olerud's homer.

``(Adams) used his offspeed pitches as well as he has in any start,'' Tracy said. ``Just a fantastic performance, not only for him but for our bullpen. For a lot of things.''

However, Adams wasn't involved in the decision. Matt Herges (7-6) won after pitching two shutout innings, getting Mike Cameron in the top of the ninth to pop out with the bases loaded.

All three runs came on homers. Gary Sheffield and Beltre providing the Dodgers' offense in the fourth and ninth, respectively, and Olerud did the same for Seattle in the fourth.

``I'm getting in a good routine, not only on game day but in between my starts,'' said Adams, who is 2-0 with a 4.87 ERA as a starter. ``I'm getting into a routine as far as working out, throwing my bullpens and stuff like that. I'm getting comfortable to the routines and that makes it easier on game day to perform well.''

There was a scary moment for Dodgers energizer Paul Lo Duca, who was struck in the head with a Jeff Nelson pitch in the eighth inning. The ball hit Lo Duca's helmet before glancing off his left cheek. He eventually left for a pinch-runner at second base, and he's likely unavailable today because of swelling around the eye, Tracy said.

Neither Lo Duca nor Beltre, who was knocked down by Nelson in the seventh, were available for comment after the game.

``My ball was running a lot,'' Nelson said. ``Even the first one to Beltre missed badly. I wanted to go inside for a strike and it just so happened my ball ran a bit. I nodded at Lo Duca a couple of times to make sure he was all right. You don't ever want to hit anyone in the helmet.''

In control throughout, Adams worked quickly, walked one and struck out four. It was the type of turnaround needed after a 13-0 pounding staff ace Kevin Brown and the Dodgers absorbed Friday.

It's also the kind of performance the Dodgers believe Adams can deliver consistently. Even with Darren Dreifort and Andy Ashby done for the season, the Dodgers aren't certain they need to add a starting pitcher. The confidence they have in Adams is a big part of that. Adams will open the Dodgers' post-All Star-break schedule by starting Thursday in Oakland.

``I know it takes a big load off (Chan Ho Park's and Brown's) backs so they don't feel like if we lose a couple of games in a row that they have to win every start,'' Adams said. ``I know they expect that out of themselves anyway, but maybe let them get a peace of mind that they don't have to go out there and throw nine shutout innings because a couple of guys didn't pitch real well.''

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(color) Adrian Beltre's ninth inning home run lifted the Dodgers past the Seattle Mariners 2-1 Saturday at Dodger Stadium.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer