AS KONERKO STRUGGLES, DODGERS LOSE 3RD IN ROW : MILWAUKEE 5, DODGERS 2.

Byline: Matt McHale Daily News Staff Writer

As tough as it has been watching Paul Konerko hit during the first three weeks of his major-league career, it might be more difficult hearing him try to explain.

Konerko stood head down at his locker after Tuesday night's 5-2 Dodgers loss to the Milwaukee Brewers fielding questions even the veterans couldn't answer.

Maybe it is part of the rookie ritual to let him figure out the .204 average on his own, to let him stand there and talk about the big picture when he struggles with his own problems.

But on a team whose leadership is often questioned, no one stepped in to help him out of the mess.

``That is part of being a highly touted rookie and that is part of playing in L.A.,'' second baseman Eric Young said. ``There isn't a guy in this room who hasn't been in that spot. It builds character. It's part of the game.''

This could have been a nostalgic visit to County Stadium, where the Dodgers last played in 1965. But the mood never seemed right. Just 10,008 came to watch the Dodgers (8-10) lose their third straight.

Konerko knows his career is not over after going 0 for 4 against Jeff Juden (3-1), who scattered nine runs and two hits for his first complete-game victory. He can point to John Jaha, whose fifth-inning grand slam against Ramon Martinez was the game winner.

Jaha peaked in 1996 with 34 homers and 118 RBI, but mostly his career has been up and down.

But Konerko does wonder about where the at-bats will come when Eric Karros returns from knee surgery. Karros wasn't expected back until June 1, giving Konerko two months at first base. But Karros could return by the next homestand.

``I know I've been given a great opportunity,'' said Konerko with a faint voice. ``I wonder if I'll be given another.''

There is a good chance Konerko could be moved to left field when Karros returns. He worked out there during spring training, but it is his bat that will keep him in the lineup.

``This is an offensive game now,'' manager Bill Russell said, when the team was in Chicago. ``We need him to hit.''

Right now, Russell needs everyone to hit.

The nine hits against Juden were deceiving. Mike Piazza had a home run, his fifth. Raul Mondesi, hitless in his 12 at-bats coming in, had two singles to center and made two outs that were sharply hit.

But the Dodgers also had runners in scoring position three times with less than two outs and didn't score.

That didn't help Martinez, who lost 2-1 to Juden last May 19 when Juden was a member of the Montreal Expos. In six innings, Martinez allowed just four hits, but he walked three and hit a batter, and two of them scored.

Although he wasn't as sharp as in his three previous starts, Martinez (2-2) pitched out of trouble until the fifth when Jaha hit an opposite-field grand slam that curled around the right-field foul pole.

Martinez allowed a home run to hot-hitting Fernando Vina to lead off the game, but it was Jaha who put it away.

With one out in the inning, Martinez hit catcher Jesse Levis and allowed a single to Juden. He walked Vina to load the bases, then blew a called third strike past Jeff Cirillo. Jaha was watching. He likes fastballs away and he got one.

``The ball only traveled 325 feet, but it was enough to beat us,'' Russell said.

``His ball was moving a lot, not a guy you can try to pull,'' Jaha said. ``He had the best stuff of anybody we've seen this year; he's the kind of guy you hope to get one big hit against.''

Konerko is desperate for that one big hit. The 1997 Minor League Rookie of the Year had 37 homers and 127 RBI at Triple-A Albuquerque but is still looking for his first major-league extra-base hit.

Twice, Tuesday, Konerko made the final out during innings in which the Dodgers had runners in scoring position. He also struck out to open the ninth.

The team skipped batting practice and met with hitting instructor Reggie Smith before the game. They will not take BP today, hoping it will shake them from their slump.

``It's frustrating, everybody is struggling,'' Konerko said. ``But it is not from lack of effort.''

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color) Dodgers pitcher Ramon Martinez gave up a grand slam to Milwaukee's John Jaha.

(2) Milwaukee's John Jaha hit a grand slam in the fifth that didn't travel far. It curled around the right-field pole and was enough to beat the Dodgers.

Morry Gash/Daily News