BACK FROM THE EDGE ONCE MORE.

Byline: STEVE DILBECK

SAN FRANCISCO - That was so much like the Dodgers.

On the brink, and then back again. You're ready to give up on them, write them off, point out their failings.

Then they come back Wednesday to avoid a killer sweep, defeating the Giants 7-3. A game, that no matter what was said, they almost had to win.

Now it's all even in the battle of the National League wild-card race, with 17 games to go. The Dodger and Giants, teeth showing, an identical 83-62.

An exciting battle to the finish with their archrival. Tension building by the game.

And just when the Dodgers looked one loss from calling it a very nice little season. They had dropped four consecutive games at exactly the wrong time of the year. For the first time in a month, they'd fallen into third in the NL West, a game back of the Giants.

``Here we go again,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. ``We've had a lot of different points in the season where our resolve has been tested - and we've passed every time.''

But no test came with all the ramifications of Wednesday's.

To assure they finish ahead of the Giants, the Dodgers need to complete their regular season Sept. 29 with a 1 1/2-game lead. If they're up - or down - by a half-game, the Giants must travel to Atlanta to make up a game against the Braves.

A Braves team that already knows it has won its division and won't be wasting a star pitcher on the eve of the playoffs. The Dodgers hardly want their season coming down to some freckle-faced Braves Triple-A hurler making the first major-league start of his career.

``This was a huge game,'' Tracy said. ``From a psychological point of view, it would have been a big sweep, losing three games to your main rivals in their ballpark, falling back by two games with 17 to play.''

So very much needing to win Wednesday, the Dodgers turned to a right-hander who has become their unlikely ace - Hideo Nomo.

When the Dodgers signed Nomo in the offseason, you almost wondered why. He looked done the last time he was in L.A. He was released by two teams after that, and had to fight his way back through the minors to begin his comeback. He was 33-30 with a 4.59 ERA the past three seasons.

``There was a time when you thought this guy was on a downward slide,'' Tracy said.

Now Nomo is the rotation's rock. He's lost one game since May 12. He is 12-1 in his past 23 starts, and the Dodgers are 19-4 in that span.

``He's back in the National League,'' Dodgers outfielder Brian Jordan said. ``He was comfortable here before he left. He's almost back home now.''

Tracy tweaked the rotation so Nomo could start Wednesday, and again on Monday when the Giants come to Dodger Stadium to open a four-game series.

Nomo delivered on a brilliant afternoon at Pac Bell Park, overcoming a shaky start to throw 6 2/3 innings, including a season-high 132 pitches.

``I don't know where we would be without Nomo,'' Tracy said. ``He's become the mainstay of our rotation.''

Nomo was helped by a pair of other playoff veterans. Marquis Grissom opened the game with a single and scored the first of two runs in the first, then tripled and scored to break a 2-2 tie in the fifth.

Then Jordan smashed a three-run homer off Kirk Rueter, and you almost could feel the Giants let down.

It didn't figure this way, which should have figured. Rueter was 5-1 with a 2.09 ERA over his past nine starts.

Recent Dodgers teams might have dropped two to the Giants here and had the air taken from them. These Dodgers are proving tough to count out.

``The difference this year,'' outfielder Shawn Green said, ``is we don't let a bad game - or two or three - put us in a tailspin.''

So now it's down to this, two old rivals, clawing and scratching, trying to gain any edge. Trying to come through in the clutch. Trying to outlast the other good club.

``You know it's going to come down to the wire,'' Giants manager Dusty Baker said.

The Dodgers put themselves back into that position Wednesday. They were what they've been about all season.

Playing scrappy ball. Not giving in. Getting a huge pitching performance from Nomo. Big games from veterans Jordan and Grissom.

And setting up what figures to be a wild finish.