BROWN TEARS MUSCLE DODGER MIGHT BE OUT FOR YEAR WITH ELBOW INJURY DODGERS 4, PITTSBURGH 2.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

PITTSBURGH - An injury-riddled season might have taken a devastating turn Sunday when Dodgers staff ace Kevin Brown left his start after five innings with a torn muscle in his pitching elbow that threatens the remainder of his season.

Brown recorded the win as the Dodgers beat Pittsburgh 4-2 at PNC Park. However, by game's end, the $105 million pitcher was on his way to the airport to catch a flight for Los Angeles. His status, and perhaps that of the Dodgers' season, should be known after he has an MRI on the elbow at 10 a.m. today and is examined by team physician Dr. Frank Jobe.

Brown, 36, was diagnosed with a torn flexor muscle in his right elbow by Dr. Jim Bradley, the Pittsburgh Steelers' head orthopedist. The injury is similar to the one that forced right-hander Andy Ashby to have season-ending surgery, according to team trainer Stan Johnston .

``It is similar (to Ashby's injury) in a way,'' Johnston said. ``I don't know to the extent. We won't know until Dr. Jobe attends to him. You really can't tell (if muscle has separated) until we get an MRI. He has soreness in the flexor mass, where it attaches to the medial epicondyle. That's why we rushed him back to see Dr. Jobe.''

The Dodgers already have lost two-fifths of their starting rotation to season-ending surgery.

Ashby had surgery June 15 to re-attach the flexor muscle to the bone in his right elbow. His recovery time is three to six months. Darren Dreifort had reconstructive elbow surgery Tuesday and is out for 12 months.

Brown, Dreifort and Ashby are guaranteed $136 million on their combined contracts.

A long-term injury to Brown could force the Dodgers to pursue a proven starter as the trading deadline approaches if they hope to keep pace with division-leading Arizona. They entered the day trailing the Diamondbacks by 4 1/2 games in the National League West.

``It's very freaky, if you ask me, to have this many injuries and the types of injuries we've had this year,'' Johnston said. ``It's just a bad-luck year. You look at causes of injuries, it's hard to say what causes them. (Mark Grudzielanek) hurting his thumb sliding and turning his ankle on a base. And Dreif and Ash and even Brownie, it's hard to predict how many throws there are in an arm.''

The Dodgers usually are reserved when it comes to preliminary diagnoses of injuries, but their concern about Brown was easily visible.

``After the fifth inning, he told us that that was it, that he couldn't continue,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. ``We've dealt with so many things already this year, and obviously this is another one. And until I know exactly what his status is, I don't think there's a whole lot for me to say at this particular time.''

It was Brown's first start after the All-Star break. The Dodgers gave him eight days off since his last start because he was bothered by an inflamed nerve in his neck that kept him on the disabled list most of June.

Brown missed the first week of the season with a strained right Achilles tendon and missed most of June because of the neck problem, which led to a loss of feeling and strength in his forearm and fingers.

Brown was still receiving treatment for a nerve below his right elbow and in his forearm, but Johnston said the elbow injury is unrelated.

``Let's face it, up to this point in the season, he's fought so many different things,'' Tracy said. ``The thing with his side, the Achilles tendon in spring training. There's just been a number of things, and it just seems to never end, and it's very disappointing. I've got to tell you, it's very disappointing.''

The mood in the clubhouse was somber.

``I spent half the game, after he got taken out, just sulking, thinking, 'Man.' '' Dodgers reliever Matt Herges said. ``Even Jesse (Orosco) said, 'If we win this thing, they better have highlights of this season for the rest of the life of baseball.' Sure, everybody has had a lot of setbacks, but three of our top starters. Come on.''

No one was able to pinpoint when the injury occurred, but catcher Paul Lo Duca said he noticed something in the fourth inning. He said Brown's spikes stuck on a wild pitch that scored Brian Giles and pulled Pittsburgh to within 3-1.

Brown continued to pitch. He walked Aramis Ramirez but struck out John Vander Wal to end the inning. Brown pitched a perfect fifth inning but told Tracy he couldn't pitch the sixth because of the pain.

``The wild pitch that got away from me that he threw where he hit his cleat, and sort of had a weird motion,'' Lo Duca said. ``After that, he kind of started walking around a little bit more after pitches, so I wondered a little bit. I wondered a little bit, but he's such a warrior he's not going to say much.''

Brown, who is 8-4 with a 2.95 ERA, was unavailable for comment.

DODGERS vs. PITTSBURGH

Time: 4:05 p.m., at PNC Park.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net 2; 1150-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: The Dodgers officially recalled RH Eric Gagne (1-4, 5.42 ERA) and he'll make his second start since the injury to Darren Dreifort. Gagne pitched six scoreless innings July 4 against the Giants in his last start. Gagne has bounced back and forth to Triple-A Las Vegas, where he was 3-0 with a 1.52 ERA in four starts. He yielded five runs in five innings against Pittsburgh in an April 25 start. Pirates LH Joe Beimel (4-4, 4.65) makes his eighth start after beginning the season in the bullpen.

- Brian Dohn

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- cover -- color) DIS-ARMED?

Kevin Brown to have MRI today on injured elbow, leaving Dodgers rotation in possible lurch

(2) Pittsburgh's Brian Giles slides safely into third as Dave Hansen fails to handle the throw.

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Box: (1) DODGERS 4, PIRATES 2

(2) DODGERS vs. PITTSBURGH (see text)