ALVAREZ SPARKLES FOR DODGERS HIS COMPLETE-GAME SHUTOUT STIFLES SAN DIEGO DODGERS 6, SAN DIEGO 0.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

With two outs in the ninth inning Friday, Dodgers fans stood on their feet and cheered every pitch, a customary occurrence at Dodger Stadium for closer Eric Gagne.

But this applause was for Wilson Alvarez.

Alvarez, who started the season at Triple-A Las Vegas, allowed four hits in a complete game as the Dodgers blasted the Padres 6-0 in front of 51,013 at Dodger Stadium.

It was the left-hander's first shutout since 1997.

The Dodgers remain 3 1/2 games behind Florida in the National League wild-card race after the Marlins recorded a come-from-behind victory over the Braves.

Alvarez's gem was coupled with two home runs from Adrian Beltre and Shawn Green's 250th career homer.

``I hope we keep doing it because we need to win,'' Alvarez said. ``I gave my team a chance to win. I know I'm not going to throw a shutout every time.''

The Dodgers aren't going to win with home runs every game, but they had three Friday.

Green hit a solo homer in the first inning, and Beltre hit solo home runs in the second and eighth innings to give him 20 for the season. Beltre needs one more to reach 21 for the second consecutive year.

``It was nice to get this kind of win, a complete effort,'' Green said. ``It was a good way to start the homestand off.''

Before the game, Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said Alvarez was throwing as well as any Dodgers starter, quite a compliment considering they have the best staff in baseball. Hideo Nomo is the only other Dodger to throw a complete-game shutout this season, accomplishing the feat twice.

Alvarez, who rehabilitated from shoulder surgery last year, is looking much like the pitcher who won 15 games twice in the early 1990s with the Chicago White Sox.

``Everybody has to realize that he's healthy,'' catcher Paul Lo Duca said. ``He was one of the best in the American League. He got hurt. He's healthy, and he can flat-out pitch.''

Alvarez had pitched seven innings on three occasions this season but never had gone the distance. He threw 105 pitches after eight innings but wasn't about to stop.

The Padres had won nine of 12 games against the Dodgers this season, but starter Kevin Jarvis didn't do much to help continue that trend. He was chased after 4 1/3 innings after allowing five runs, three earned, on seven hits. He fell to 4-8 with a 5.87 ERA.

Alvarez, meanwhile, was dominant, and he improved to 5-1 with a 2.16 ERA and a 1.18 ERA since Aug. 9. He used effective fastballs, changeups and curveballs to keep the Padres off balance.

``He put a clinic on in pitching tonight,'' Padres manger Bruce Bochy said. ``He had all his pitches working and his location was great. He's a great example of a guy that doesn't throw as hard as he used to but is a better pitcher for it.''

Green hit home runs in three consecutive days on the road trip and hit his 16th Friday on a 3-1 pitch from Jarvis. Beltre's homer in the eighth inning came off off Brandon Villafuerte.

Alvarez's complete game was his first since June 25, 1999.

Jill Painter, [phone]

jill.painter(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

(color) Shawn Green jogs home Friday after hitting his 250th career home run in the Dodgers' 6-0 victory.

Chris Urso/Staff Photographer

Box:

NL WILD CARD