CAN BROWN GET A LITTLE HELP HERE? : CINCINNATI 3 DODGERS 2.

Byline: Brian Dohn Daily News Staff Writer

This wasn't a five-run-blowout-type loss or one in which the Dodgers' closer just had a bad day. It might have been worse because of what the Dodgers' 3-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds at Cinergy Field on Tuesday represented.

Right-hander Kevin Brown, the man paid handsomely to help turn around the Dodgers, threw his best game since donning Dodger Blue. He allowed five hits, struck out a career-high 12 batters and for the fourth consecutive start allowed one earned run in a complete-game effort.

In return, the defense faltered in two crucial instances that led to a pair of unearned runs, and the hitters were limited to solo homers by Gary Sheffield and Tripp Cromer.

``I'll take a bad game that we win,'' Brown said. ``It's what it's all about. You don't want to go out and pitch bad, but if you have a choice, I'd rather pitch poorly and win.''

Brown (5-3) hasn't pitched poorly lately. In fact, he's been dominating. He's 3-1 with a 1.16 ERA in his last four starts. However, during that span the Dodgers are 3-8 in games he didn't start.

This loss drops the Dodgers (22-22) to .500 for the first time since April 27 - when Brown beat the Milwaukee Brewers to get the Dodgers to 10-10.

``Great pitching effort,'' Dodgers manager Davey Johnson said. ``We gave them a couple of runs. It was a great effort on his part. It sticks in your craw. You need to win those.''

The inning of symbolism for the Dodgers was the fourth.

Brown (5-3) walked Dmitri Young with two outs and struck out Barry Larkin. But the third strike got away from catcher Todd Hundley, who threw errantly to first and allowed Young to move to third.

Larkin stole second and Michael Tucker hit a grounder to first baseman Eric Karros' right. Karros dived but the ball glanced off his glove and trickled into right field. Both runners scored to give the Reds (22-19) a 2-1 lead.

``We have to make those plays,'' Johnson said. ``If we expect to win, you can't waste good pitching efforts like that.''

The Reds added a run on back-to-back doubles by Mark Lewis and Eddie Taubensee in the fifth but Brown faced the minimum nine batters in the last three innings.

The message of the day echoed throughout the clubhouse.

``(Brown) didn't deserve to lose the game,'' Hundley said. ``He threw the ball unbelievable. Unfortunately, the split (finger fastball) to Larkin comes back to haunt us, to haunt me. No excuses for me. It was the right pitch.

``We have four other starters that are going to make a difference, but you want the first night (of a nine-game road trip) to be a win with Kevin Brown on the mound.''

Brown's reputation is that of a tough competitor who can be confrontational with teammates after marginal plays that should be, but aren't made.

However, that reputation hasn't manifested itself in Los Angeles. Instead, Brown has kept silent on such matters.

``There's nothing to say about (the play),'' Brown said. ``That's what happened in the game. They did a good job on the other side.''

They, in particular, was Reds starter Steve Parris. While Brown was baffling the Reds, Parris was doing the same to the Dodgers.

Parris (3-0) matched a career-high with nine strikeouts. He allowed five hits and a homer to Sheffield in the fourth inning. Danny Graves pitched the final two innings, giving up a home run to Cromer in the ninth but recording his sixth save.

The Dodgers also wasted a couple of prime scoring opportunities.

In the first, two runners reached base but Sheffield popped up and Raul Mondesi and Karros struck out.

Adrian Beltre led off the seventh with an infield single and Cromer reached on an error, but Brown and Devon White struck out and Mark Grudzielanek grounded into a fielder's choice.

``All it is, is we hit the ball hard but right at them,'' Sheffield said. ``I can't say we're playing bad as the reason (we're losing). We're just going through the tough times early. Hopefully, we don't get too discouraged. We have the type of team that can bounce back and win 15 out of 20. Everybody on this team has to rely on each other.''

Brown relied on the rest of the Dodgers in this case and had nothing to show for it.

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2 Photos

Photo: (1--Color) Pitcher Kevin Brown was near his best against the Cincinnati Reds, but the Dodgers hitters weren't.

Al Behrman/Associated Press

(2) Mark Grudzielanek argues a called third strike in the third inning of Tuesday's game.

Tony Tribble/Associated Press